A major investigation is underway following the death of an 80-year-old woman after she was left behind by a cruise ship at a remote island in Far North Queensland over the weekend.
The woman, identified today as Suzanne Rees, was remembered by her family as healthy, active, and a keen bushwalker.
Her daughter, Katherine Rees, told The Australian her loved ones were "shocked and saddened" by her death.
"From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense."
Rees had been hiking with fellow passengers on Coral Expeditions' Coral Adventurer cruise ship on Lizard Island, 250km north of Cairns, on Saturday.
Rees was asked to head back down the mountain alone after falling ill during the hike, Katherine Rees said.
"Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mum died, alone," she said.
The ship left the Great Barrier Reef island at sunset, returning five hours later when Rees failed to show up to dinner.
Her body was found 50m off the hiking trail leading to Lizard Island's highest summit, Cook's Look, on Sunday morning after a major search operation.
In a statement, Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield, told the ABC the cruise line company was notified by police of Rees' death on Sunday.
"We are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman's family.
"The Coral team has been in contact with the woman's family, and we will continue to offer support to them through this difficult process.
"We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation. We are unable to comment further while this process is underway."
Queensland Police, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Coroners Court is investigating the Rees' death.
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