Family members and officials are demanding a coronial inquest following an incident where an 80-year-old woman was found dead after allegedly being abandoned by her cruise ship on a remote Australian island. Suzanne Rees, who was on a luxury 60-day cruise in Australia, was last seen on a hiking tour of Lizard Island, about 200 miles north of Cairns, but did not return to the Coral Adventurer cruise ship, which left at about 6 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses reported hearing commotion on the radio and saw the ship returning to the island on a vessel tracker, prompting the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to initiate a response. AMSA stated it received notification of the incident at around 10 p.m. local time Saturday, leading to a search operation involving Queensland Police and WorkSafe Queensland. The cruise operator, Coral Expeditions, has apologized and expressed condolences to the family, while AMSA is investigating potential non-compliance with passenger counting procedures. Rees’ daughter, Katherine, highlighted concerns about the failure of care and common sense, emphasizing the hot weather and the lack of supervision when her mother was on the hill climb. The Coroner’s Court of Queensland has confirmed Rees’ death was referred to the coroner for investigation, with a decision on an inquest expected once the coroner’s inquiry is complete. The incident has sparked discussions about safety protocols on cruise ships and the responsibilities of operators to ensure passenger well-being during excursions. The operation of the vessel is regulated under the Australian Navigation Act 2012 and relevant workplace laws, according to AMSA. While details about the ship’s arrival and AMSA’s next steps remain under investigation, the family continues to seek answers about whether the tragedy could have been prevented.