In brief
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has commenced an investigation into the death of 80-year-old Suzanne Rees, who was abandoned on Lizard Island while on a cruise. Rees, who had gone hiking away from her group, succumbed while alone after the ship left without confirming all passengers were onboard. The Coral Adventurer is currently at anchor near Cairns as authorities conduct their inquiry.
Investigators have boarded an Australian cruise ship more than 10 days after the death of an elderly female passenger who was left behind on a remote island.
Suzanne Rees, 80, had been hiking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer, but broke off from the group for a rest. The ship left without her, only returning several hours later when the crew realised Ms Rees was missing.
Officials from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) boarded the vessel on Wednesday morning local time.
Amsa, which is probing the incident alongside Queensland Police and the state coroner, told the BBC it could not comment on the investigation.
The 60-day cruise around Australia, which had cost guests tens of thousands of dollars, was cancelled due to Ms Rees' death as well as mechanical issues.
The Coral Adventurer had been expected to dock at Cairns – where its operator Coral Expeditions is based. But a lack of available berths meant it instead dropped anchor a few kilometres north early on Tuesday evening, off the coast of Yorkey's Knob, where it remained on Wednesday morning.
Ship tracking data showed one of the vessel's smaller boats, known as a tender, moving between the ship and the shore on Tuesday night. All passengers disembarked at Horn Island in the far north of Queensland over the weekend and were transferred to the mainland on a charter plane.
Suzanne Rees' daughter, Katherine Rees, expressed her shock and sadness, stating, There seems to have been a failure of care and common sense. She hopes the coroner's inquiry will pinpoint what the company could have done to save her mother's life.
Last week, Mark Fifield, the chief executive of Coral Expeditions, confirmed the firm was cooperating with investigations and expressed deep regret over the incident.
