The daughter of an 80-year-old woman, who was discovered deceased following her alleged abandonment by a cruise ship, has recently advocated for an inquiry into her mother’s death, labeling the event “a failure of care and common sense.”
Suzanne Rees, a participant in a cruise, was discovered deceased on Sunday, following her being reported missing on Saturday night.
Rees had last been observed during a group hiking tour on an island situated approximately 200 miles north of Cairns; however, she did not return to the Coral Adventurer cruise ship, which departed around 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Witnesses reported hearing disturbances on the radio and observed the ship heading back towards the island using a vessel tracking system.
Australia’s national maritime safety regulator informed a digital news outlet that the incident was reported by the vessel around 10 p.m. local time Saturday, prompting the regulator to initiate a response.
An AMSA spokesperson stated that they provided assistance to Queensland Police during the search and are maintaining close collaboration with Queensland authorities, including Queensland Police and WorkSafe Queensland.
In a statement, the spokesperson wrote, “AMSA will evaluate if there was any non-compliance related to the passenger not being counted on board the ship and will take appropriate action to address any issues, if necessary. AMSA plans to conduct inquiries on the vessel upon its arrival in Darwin. We are currently investigating the specific circumstances regarding why the passenger may not have been accounted for during boarding. AMSA extends its condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased individual. Our thoughts are with them during this challenging period.”
Rees’s daughter, Katherine, conveyed to an outlet that “from the limited information we have received, it appears there was a failure of care and common sense.”
“Police have informed us that it was an exceptionally hot day, and Mum felt unwell during the hill climb. She was reportedly asked to descend by herself, unescorted,” Katherine told the outlet. “Subsequently, the ship departed, seemingly without conducting a passenger headcount.”
The family has reportedly expressed their hope to ascertain whether Rees’s death might have been preventable.
The Coroner’s Court of Queensland confirmed to ABC on Wednesday that Rees’s death had been “referred to the coroner for investigation.”
Following the completion of the coroner’s investigation, a decision will be rendered concerning the commencement of an inquest into the death.
AMSA stated that specific details regarding the vessel’s arrival time and AMSA’s subsequent actions are not being released, as the investigation is still ongoing.
“The Coral team has been in communication with the woman’s family, and we intend to persist in providing them support throughout this challenging period,” Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield reportedly conveyed in a statement. “While inquiries into the incident are ongoing, we express our profound regret that this event took place and are extending our full assistance to the woman’s family.”
According to AMSA, the vessel’s operation is subject to regulation under maritime standards and applicable workplace laws.
Pilar Arias of a digital news outlet contributed to this report.