The search operation, coordinated by Queensland Police, involved helicopters, ground teams and local staff. On Sunday morning, an aerial crew located Rees’s body approximately 50 meters from the marked trail leading to the summit. Preliminary observations suggested she may have fallen from a nearby slope or low cliff. Police stated that the death is being treated as non-suspicious pending the outcome of a coroner’s review.
Coral Expeditions confirmed its cooperation with the ongoing inquiries. Chief executive Mark Fifield conveyed condolences to the Rees family and said the company is assisting investigators. The cruise line has not released further details, citing the pending official processes.
The Queensland Coroner’s Court has accepted the case and will examine whether any actions or omissions by the ship’s operator contributed to Rees’s death. Separately, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the federal agency responsible for maritime safety, has initiated an inquiry focusing on passenger head-count procedures and broader compliance with national regulations. A state workplace safety regulator is also reviewing the incident because the cruise ship was engaged in a commercial tourism activity.
Investigators are expected to determine why Rees’s absence went unnoticed during the transfer back to the vessel and whether a mandatory roll-call or manifest check was conducted. Standard industry practice in Australia requires operators to verify all passengers are on board before departure, particularly during land-based excursions in remote areas.
Family members, including Rees’s daughter Katherine, have raised concerns about the level of care provided during the hike and the decision to allow an older passenger to descend alone in hot conditions. They have indicated they will rely on the coroner’s findings to clarify the sequence of events and any responsibilities that may rest with the cruise line.
The Coral Adventurer returned to Lizard Island early Sunday after authorities instructed the ship to assist search efforts and provide passenger manifests. The vessel later resumed its itinerary once law-enforcement officials completed initial interviews with crew and guests.
Rees’s death has renewed public attention on safety protocols within Australia’s reef-tourism sector. The industry came under previous scrutiny in 1998 when American divers Tom and Eileen Lonergan were unintentionally left at sea during a group dive on the Great Barrier Reef. Their disappearance prompted regulatory changes aimed at preventing similar oversights.
As the current investigations proceed, the coroner will conduct an autopsy, review weather data and examine the cruise line’s operational procedures. Findings are expected to address any systemic issues and could lead to additional safety recommendations for operators conducting shore activities in isolated environments.
Crédito da imagem: Associated Press
