80-year-old woman dies after being forgotten on island by cruise ship

The ship left without Suzanne. The team only became aware of her absence during dinner, when she did not show up for the meal.

The vessel returned to the island hours later to look for her. Rescue teams retraced the route on foot, and a helicopter flew over the area in search of the woman.

The searches were suspended in the early hours of the morning and Suzanne’s body was found on Sunday morning on the island. The cause of death was not disclosed. The Australian maritime safety authority said it was investigating the case to understand how they did not realize that the passenger had not boarded.

“There was a lack of care,” said Suzanne’s daughter. Katherine Rees told the English newspaper “The Guardian” that the family has received little information about what really happened and that they hope the coroner’s inquest “will find out what the company should have done to save my mother’s life.” Suzanne was from the Australian state of New South Wales.

It seems there was a lack of care and common sense. From what we understand from the police, it was a very hot day, and my mother felt ill while climbing the hill. They told her to return alone. Then the ship left, apparently without counting the passengers. At some point in this sequence, or soon after, my mother died, alone. Katherine Rees, to “The Guardian”

The company spoke out about the case and stated that it was “providing full support to the family members”. Coral Expeditions chief executive Mark Fifield told the BBC it was a “tragic death”. “While investigations into the incident continue, we are deeply saddened by what has occurred and offer our full support to the family,” Fifield said. According to him, the company cannot offer details about the investigation.