Overview
- Queensland Police say Suzanne Rees, 80, was found dead on Lizard Island after she did not return to the Coral Adventurer and her death is being treated as sudden and non-suspicious.
- AMSA says it will question the crew when the ship docks in Darwin and is examining whether boarding and headcount rules were followed.
- The ship left the island at dusk on 25 October, reported her missing that night around 9–10 p.m., and a helicopter searched overnight before her body was located at first light on 26 October.
- Rees’s daughter alleges the operator let her mother descend unescorted during a hot, steep hike and departed without a passenger count, calling it a failure of care and common sense.
- Coral Expeditions has expressed condolences and says it is cooperating with AMSA, police, the coroner and WorkSafe Queensland as investigations continue.