Coral Expeditions around-Australia cruise cancelled after passenger death
Coral Expeditions has cancelled its $80,000 around-Australia cruise after an elderly passenger was left behind on Lizard Island and found dead the next day.
A cruise that left a Sydney passenger behind on Lizard Island last week, who was later found dead, has been cancelled.
The company, Coral Expeditions, cited the “tragic” death and previous mechanical issues on the cruise vessel, Coral Adventurer, as the reasons for cutting the t60-day rip short.
Sydney woman Suzanne Rees, 80, from Collaroy, boarded the Coral Adventurer vessel on Friday last week for an around-Australia cruise; the next day, she was reported missing after a stop at Lizard Island.
Ms Rees had begun a hike to Lizard Island’s highest peak on the Saturday, but reportedly turned around when she became tired.
The cruise ship left the island, and discovered several hours later that Ms Rees was not on board.
Her body was found on Sunday on Lizard Island, police confirmed last week.
Coral Expeditions chief executive officer, Mark Fifield, confirmed today – a week after Ms Rees went missing – that Coral Expeditions informed passengers and crew on Wednesday evening that the cruise would not continue.
He said the company made the decision was because of “the tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues.”
“It was increasingly apparent given the circumstances of the last week that we could not deliver on this promise (of the cruise),” Mr Fifield said.
He said passengers would receive a full refund.
“Since that time, our team has worked to co-ordinate the return journeys of the passengers via chartered flights, as well as the crew and the vessel.”
“The Coral team prides itself on delivering high quality experiences to our guests.”
The cruise is understood to have cost $80,000.
Ms Rees’ daughter Katherine Rees said this week her family was “shocked and saddened”.
She said her mother was keen gardener and bushwalker.
Investigations are underway into the events of the cruise by the Queensland Police, the State Coroner, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
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Originally published as Coral Expeditions around-Australia cruise cancelled after passenger death
