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Harrowing Final Words Of Woman Left Behind On Island By Cruise Ship Revealed
An 81-year-old grandmother’s final words have been revealed after she was forgotten and left to die on a remote island by a luxury cruise company.
Suzanne Rees, from New South Wales, was on the first stop of a 60-day cruise when she was left behind by the vessel she was traveling on.
On October 26, 2025, a search operation found her body, almost 24-hours after she was left behind on Lizard Island.
Now, her daughter Katherine has shared her mother’s final heartbreaking text message.
The trip of a lifetime
In October 2025, Rees and the other passengers boarded the Coral Adventurer Cruise in Cairns.
The vessel could accommodate up to 120 guests, and 46 crew members, and planned to make a 60-day journey across Australia.
Tickets for trips onboard the cruise can cost passengers tens of thousands of dollars.
Rooms with a balcony on the boat were priced at $86,400 per person, The Guardian reports.
On the trip, vacationers can access remote wilderness shores in Australia, and take part in activities such as hikes and snorkeling.
However, for 81-year-old Rees, the trip had a heartbreaking ending.
What happened on that tragic day?
On the day Rees went missing, she was at the first stop of her Coral Adventurer cruise.
On the day, they planned to do the tricky climb up Lizard Island.
It is understood the 81-year-old split off from the group to rest, as per the BBC.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s closest weather station, situated 30km away from where Rees was, recorded a high temperature of over 89°F.
“We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and mum fell ill on the hill climb,” Katherine told the BBC.
“She was asked to head down, unescorted. Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count.”
The ship left the island at sunset, and 60 Minutes Australia reported it took the crew a ‘staggering’ five hours before they realized they had left Rees behind.
Fern Trent, who briefly guided hikes for the Coral Adventurer, said: “If someone was feeling unwell you would radio in for assistance, and wait for assistance to come.”
Instead, Rees hiked back down alone.
Police inform Suzanne Rees’ family
New South Wales Police woke Ree’s daughter with a knock at the door at 2.30 a.m.
They asked her if Rees was at the house. They told police she lived there, but was currently on a boat off Coral Coast.
Police then told her daughter Katherine she was missing.
Katherine described how this ‘didn’t make any sense,’ asking: “Because surely the boat wouldn’t have left without her.
“How does that even happen?”
Rees’ family told 60 Minutes Australia that they were hopeful while the search was ongoing.
“It’s not a large island, it’s probably possible they’ll find her at first light,” said Katherine.
Andrew Cowie, Katherine’s husband, added: “She’ll be sitting on a rock probably pretty opinionated about the situation.”
Unfortunately, the family never received the news they were hoping for.
The tragic realization
Unfortunately, Rees was found dead on October 25, 2025.
She was found in close proximity to the beach shortly after an air search commenced across the national park.
Her death was shared over the phone with her daughter by Queensland Police.
The company’s statement
60 Minutes Australia approached NRMA, the company that own Coral Expeditions, for an interview, which they declined.
In a statement, they said: “The death of Suzanne Rees on Lizard Island was devastating.
“We are deeply sorry to Ms Rees’ family for their loss and the distress and hurt her death has caused.
“While Coral Expeditions has comprehensive safety systems and procedures in place, we acknowledge some of these were not adequately implemented on this tragic day.
“Ms Rees’ death has shocked our people to the core and we will continue to co-operate fully with the ongoing investigations.
“Coral Expeditions has introduced additional systems and procedures to further strengthen protections for our guests.”
The grandmother’s heartbreaking final messages
Rees’ family had their final contact with her on the morning she went missing, before she died alone.
The messages that were sent between the pair could have never predicted what was to come next.
The heartbreak the family face is that they don’t know anything other than that Rees arrived at her last stop on her coral adventure cruise.
“She was fit she was healthy,” Said Suzanne’s daughter, as per 60 Minutes Australia.
“My mum was capable, she walked all the time.
“And I think what should have happened if the conditions were unacceptable, the walk should have been cancelled in the first place.
“Somebody needed to make that decision and say: too hot, were not doing the walk.”
The elderly woman text her daughter Katherine on the morning saying: “We are heading for Lizard Island.”
“Hopefully doing a walk morning and snorkel afternoon.
“On wifi so may not always work.”
Katherine also revealed that she had to ask the company for a refund for her mothers trip, after she found out in a media report that other passengers on the journey would get their money back.
“It’s also good that in the paper they mentioned that they would be refunding everyone’s passage, but they didn’t refund Sue’s.
“I had to ask them to refund that money. For the trip that she didn’t actually get to go on.
“I was pretty horrified that I actually had to ask. It’s like ripping the band-aid back off again.”
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