More tragic details shared as woman, 80, dies after cruise left her on deserted island

More tragic details have emerged after a Coral Expeditions passenger, 80, was left behind on a remote island.

Suzanne Rees' body was located by rescue workers on Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef on Sunday (26 October).

It's believed that the New South Wales woman was participating in an organised hike on the island and was reportedly unable to return to the Coral Adventurer cruise on Saturday due to illness.

Meanwhile, the ship headed for its next destination without realising that she was missing. Queensland Police said that the Coral Adventurer alerted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) of Rees's absence on Saturday at 10pm (AEST).

A day later, a helicopter search, Rees' body was found 50 metres off the hiking trail that leads to Lizard Island's highest peak, Cook's Look, with her death being treated by authorities as 'sudden and non-suspicious'.

Yachtie Traci Ayris and her partner Matthew were on a different cruise ship, which was anchored on Lizard Island, when they said they heard emergency radio signals sent from Coral Expeditions' boat.

The body of Suzanne Rees, 80, from New South Wales, was discovered on Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef on Sunday (Facebook)

"They did headcounts for snorkellers (which we heard) but not for other guests on the island, it would seem," Ayris told the Cairns Post. "The last people came down from the track and got into tender, then the (ship) left very soon after that."

According to Vessel Finder, the ship headed back to Lizard Island at approximately 9 pm on Saturday and arrived at about 2 am on Sunday.

“We watched the search up the mountain,” Ayris said. “Until the search was called off around 3am and then resumed again at first light.

“The chopper arrived at first light, and it went directly to Telstra Rock (where she was last seen), and immediately it hovered, then went straight to the air strip.

“We knew that it had found her, and the lack of activity told us that she was clearly dead. She lay there all day and was finally airlifted (from the island) at 3:42pm.”

Rees' daughter has since criticised the cruise liner, accusing it of a 'failure of care'.

Rees had been on a 60-day trip around Australia on the Coral Adventurer ship (Coral Adventurer)

Coral Expeditions chief executive, Mark Fifield, said on Tuesday (28 October): “Following the operation, Coral Expeditions was notified by Queensland police that the woman had been found deceased on Lizard Island.

"While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family.

“The Coral team have 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.”

An ASMA spokesperson also said they would assess 'as to whether there was any non-compliance associated with the passenger not being counted onto the ship and, if necessary, will take action to address them', adding: "We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding why the passenger may not have been accounted for during boarding."

LADbible Group has contacted Coral Expeditions for comment.