A luxury cruise ship stopped at a remote Australian island. Suzanne Rees was left behind and died alone

"The appeal of Lizard Island is its remoteness. The Great Barrier Reef island, 250km from Cairns in Queensland's tropical north, is known for its impressive snorkelling, with giant clams nestled among the coral. It also has a scientific research station. Tourists are mostly kept at bay by its inaccessibility and eye-wateringly high accommodation prices. But a week ago, on the west of the island, Suzanne Rees, a healthy and active 80-year-old, died alone."

"She had possibly just watched her luxury cruise ship, the Coral Adventurer, sail away without her. The keen gardener and bushwalker from Sydney had intended to hike to the island's historical summit, Cook's Look, with other passengers on the second day of their 60-day circumnavigation of Australia. But on Saturday, feeling the heat, she turned around early. She never made it off the island and back to the ship."

Lizard Island is a remote Great Barrier Reef island 250km from Cairns, known for snorkelling, giant clams and a scientific research station. Tourists are limited by inaccessibility and very high accommodation prices. Suzanne Rees, a healthy 80-year-old gardener and bushwalker from Sydney, boarded the Coral Adventurer on a 60-day circumnavigation and went ashore to hike Cook's Look. She felt ill on the climb, turned back early and was asked to descend unescorted. The cruise ship left Lizard Island at about 3.40pm and authorities were not alerted until five hours later. Rees was found dead near the walking trail the following day, prompting questions about her death and the delayed notification.

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