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A 60-day cruise around the Australian Coast has been cancelled in the wake of the death of an older female passenger who was left behind by the ship on a isolated island.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on the remote island with shipmates from the Coral Adventurer, but separated from the party for a break. The vessel sailed away leaving her and returned after some time after the personnel realised the passenger was not present.

A large-scale hunt located her person the next day.

Investigative bodies are looking into the tragedy, in coordination with investigators and the medical examiner.

The CEO of the voyage organizer said that guests and crew on the vessel were informed that the continuation of the cruise had been called off due to the "sad loss and prior engine troubles".

Via official communication, he further stated that passengers would be provided a total repayment, and said the operator was working "to coordinate the return journeys of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Officials also released an updated communication, and said they had "issued a order to the Commander" prohibiting any further travelers from getting on the vessel.

The representative said that they would inspect the vessel in Cairns upon its arrival.

Chronology of Incidents

The vessel first departed the Australian port on 24 October, and was just two days into the expedition at the point of the 80-year-old's death. Lizard Island was the first stop on the voyage.

Travelers on board - who usually pay substantial amounts of dollars to take part in the voyage - were ferried there for a daily excursion with the choice of walking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Statement

The child of the elderly passenger said that her loved ones was "surprised and saddened that the ship left the island after an scheduled excursion without my mum".

Via her announcement, she portrayed her parent as an "vigorous elderly person" who was a affiliate of a walking organization.

"Based on limited details we have been told, it appears that there was a failure of care and common sense," she said.

She continued that she desired the examination would be able to determine what "the company should have undertaken that might have protected Mother's life".

"According to reports from the police that it was a extremely warm period, and she took sick on the mountain ascent," she explained.

"Officials suggested her to head down, without accompaniment. Then the vessel left, reportedly without conducting a roll call.

"At a certain moment in that process, or soon after, mum succumbed, without company."

Company Position

Via official communication, the CEO affirmed that the company was "cooperating fully with officials to support their examination".

He said that the company was "deeply sorry that this has happened" and had offered its total backing to the relatives.

Cruise Industry Procedures

The liner caters for up to one hundred twenty passengers with 46 personnel, according to official information. It was specifically designed to reach remote regions of Australia's coast and is fitted with "small boats" - compact vessels used to ferry travelers on land visits.

Incidents such as this are infrequent, and liners have systems to document which passengers are getting on or disembarking, according to travel authorities.

"Leaving covertly or [back] aboard just isn't an choice," an authority commented.

Cruise lines regard these procedures very seriously and have "advanced technology in place to stop such incidents from taking place," the authority added.

"This is probably a surprising - and unfortunate - single occurrence."