Australian tourist found dead on remote island after cruise ship left without her

The victim, identified as Suzanne Rees, had joined a 60-day voyage around Australia aboard the Coral Adventurer, a 120-passenger ship operated by Coral Expeditions. The cruise departed from Cairns on Oct. 24, with Lizard Island, about 250 kilometers north of the city, as its first stop, The Straits Times reported.

On the morning of Oct. 25, Rees joined other passengers on a guided hike to the island's highest point, Cook's Look, a peak roughly 300 meters high. She decided to rest and separated from the group, according to reports. The ship departed that afternoon, and the crew only realized she was missing about five hours later.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) was alerted around 9 p.m., and rescue teams launched an overnight search. Her body was found the next morning, Oct. 26, on Lizard Island.

Her daughter, Katherine Rees, told ABC News that police informed the family her mother had fallen ill while climbing. She said the ship apparently left without performing a passenger count and that her mother, an active gardener and bushwalker, had been in good health.

Authorities described the death as "sudden and non-suspicious." Amsa said it was investigating and would meet the ship’s crew when it arrives in Darwin in the coming days.

Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield said in a statement that the company was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and is offering support to the family.