Ship faces questions in Cairns over Lizard Island death

A cruise ship nightmare is over for the 120 passengers aboard the Coral Adventurers ahead of the vessel’s arrival in Cairns where the ship will be boarded by investigators.

The Coral Adventurer is operated by Coral Expeditions.

Investigators will board a cruise ship when it docks in Cairns tomorrow afternoon, after a passenger died while on an $80,000 trip of a lifetime.

A suite of investigators from four government agencies will question crew onboard the Coral Adventurer about the death of a Sydney woman who was missed in a headcount and left behind on Lizard Island on October 25.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has ordered the ship into lockdown and confirmed its staff will be ready to board when the luxury cruise ship arrives.

Passenger Suzanne Rees, 80, boarded the ship, operated by Coral Expeditions, for a 60-day cruise before she was reported missing during the ship’s first stop at Lizard Island last Saturday.

According to VesselTracker, the Coral Adventurer was expected to arrive in Cairns at about 7.30pm on Monday evening. It is now expected to arrive on Tuesday afternoon Picture: Supplied

She was found dead on Sunday after search efforts the previous night were unsuccessful.

Coral Expeditions cited the “tragic” death and previous mechanical issues on the cruise vessel as the reasons for cancelling the cruise on Saturday.

An AMSA spokesman said the cruise was on its way to Cairns.

“The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has issued a notice to the master of Coral Adventurer prohibiting the embarkation of any new passengers,” a AMSA spokesman said.

“AMSA understands the Coral Adventurer is intending to return to Cairns where AMSA will attend it on arrival.

This undated photo provided by Katherine Rees Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, shows her mother, Suzanne Rees, posing for a photograph in Australia. (Katherine Rees via AP)

“Questions about the reason the vessel’s destination has changed or the vessel’s estimated time of arrival are to be directed to Coral Expeditions.”

A Coral Expeditions spokesman confirmed the vessel was due to arrive in Cairns on Tuesday afternoon.

Coral Expeditions chief executive officer Mark Fifield said Coral Expeditions informed passengers and crew that the cruise would not continue.

He said the decision was due to “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.

The cruise is understood to have cost $80,000, with passengers set to 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,” he said.

“The Coral team prides itself on delivering high quality experiences to our guests.”

A helicopter searches for the body of the missing Coral Adventurer passenger on Lizard Island, off Cooktown, on Sunday. Picture: Traci Ayris

Ms Rees’ daughter Katherine Rees said her family was “shocked and saddened”.

She said her mother was keen gardener and bushwalker.

Maritime records indicate the ship left waters off Thursday Island on Friday and at 1pm on Monday the ship was passing Cape Flattery near Hope Vale off the coast of Cape York.

Queensland Police, the State Coroner, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority are all expected to investigate the death of Ms Rees.

Originally published as Ship faces questions in Cairns over Lizard Island death