Coral Adventurer Grounds Off Papua New Guinea Coast Following Passenger Death
The Coral Adventurer vessel grounded off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea, approximately 30 kilometers from Lae, during its first trip after the death of a passenger. Suzanne Rees, aged 80, died on Lizard Island on October 26 after being left behind during a hike; her body was found the following day. The circumstances surrounding her death are under investigation.
At the time of the grounding, the ship carried 80 passengers and 43 crew members. Initial inspections revealed no damage to the hull, with further inspections scheduled for Sunday. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed it had not received a distress call and stated it would provide support to Papua New Guinea authorities if required, but declined to comment on any investigation findings.
This incident is part of a joint investigation by AMSA and Queensland Police into the death of Suzanne Rees. The 12-day voyage had been scheduled to conclude on December 30; however, the death led to the cancellation of the remainder of the cruise, with refunds issued to passengers.
Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield expressed sorrow over the events and confirmed that the company is cooperating fully with the authorities.
