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A extended cruise around Australia has been cancelled days after the death of an older female passenger who was abandoned by the ship on a remote island.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on the remote island with shipmates from the Coral Adventurer, but parted ways from the party for a rest. The ship sailed away leaving her and came back several hours later after the personnel discovered the woman was not present.

An extensive rescue mission found her body the next day.

Investigative bodies are examining the tragedy, together with law enforcement and the state coroner.

Head of the shipping company announced that guests and staff on the Coral Adventurer were notified that the remainder of the voyage had been terminated due to the "tragic passing and prior engine troubles".

Through an announcement, he added that travelers would be given a total repayment, and said the company was working "to coordinate the return journeys of the passengers via chartered flights".

Officials also released an updated communication, and said they had "delivered a order to the Captain" prohibiting any new passengers from getting on the vessel.

The representative said that they would visit the liner in the Australian city upon its return.

Chronology of Events

The vessel initially left Cairns on the 24th of October, and was merely two days into the voyage at the moment of the senior passenger's death. Lizard Island was the first stop on the itinerary.

Travelers on the vessel - who usually pay large sums of money to take part in the cruise - were ferried there for a shore visit with the option of walking or underwater exploration.

Next of Kin Statement

The offspring of the victim said that her relatives was "surprised and grieved that the liner left the island after an planned tour without my mother".

Through her comments, she portrayed her mother as an "energetic elderly person" who was a participant of a walking club.

"From the little facts we have been provided, it looks that there was a breakdown of responsibility and basic judgment," she stated.

She further stated that she wished the investigation would be able to identify what "the operator should have performed that might have preserved Her being".

"Based on information from the investigators that it was a very hot day, and mother took sick on the hill climb," she stated.

"They requested her to go back, without accompaniment. Then the boat sailed away, seemingly without conducting a roll call.

"At a certain moment in that chain of events, or shortly after, she succumbed, without company."

Operator Position

Through an announcement, the CEO verified that the organization was "collaborating extensively with officials to assist their examination".

He stated that the organization was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and had extended its full support to the relatives.

Shipping Sector Standards

The liner caters for up to one hundred twenty travelers with forty-six personnel, according to company details. It was specifically designed to enter remote locations of Australia's coastline and is outfitted with "tenders" - compact vessels used to take individuals on land visits.

Incidents like this are uncommon, and cruise ships have protocols to track which passengers are boarding or disembarking, according to maritime specialists.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] aboard simply isn't an choice," one expert remarked.

Vessel operators consider these processes with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such incidents from happening," the specialist continued.

"This seems to be probably a stunning - and unfortunate - one-off."