🔗 Share this article Ship Halted After Tragic Loss of Woman Left Behind on Island The Remote Island is about 250km from Cairns A 60-day journey through the Australian Coast has been cancelled in the wake of the death of an older woman who was stranded by the cruise liner on a remote coastal location. Suzanne Rees had been walking on the tropical location with other travelers from the Coral Adventurer, but separated from the excursion for a rest. The vessel left without her and returned after some time after the personnel discovered the lady was missing. A large-scale hunt discovered her remains the next day. Investigative bodies are investigating the event, in coordination with law enforcement and the medical examiner. Head of the cruise operator said that passengers and crew on the ship were informed that the continuation of the journey had been called off due to the "tragic passing and prior engine troubles". In a statement, he mentioned that guests would be provided a total repayment, and said the company was working "to organize the return journeys of the travelers via private aircraft". Officials also issued an revised communication, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Captain" preventing any further travelers from boarding the ship. The spokesperson said that they would inspect the liner in Cairns upon its return. Chronology of Incidents The vessel first departed Cairns on the 24th of October, and was merely two days into the journey at the point of the 80-year-old's passing. The tropical location was the initial destination on the journey. Guests on the ship - who generally pay large sums of dollars to participate in the expedition - were transported there for a daily excursion with the option of hiking or underwater exploration. Next of Kin Statement The offspring of the elderly passenger said that her family was "stunned and distressed that the vessel left Lizard Island after an scheduled excursion without my mother". Through her comments, she portrayed her mother as an "energetic octogenarian" who was a participant of a walking club. "Based on limited information we have been provided, it appears that there was a lapse of care and basic judgment," she mentioned. She continued that she desired the examination would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have performed that might have protected Mother's being". "We understand from the authorities that it was a very hot afternoon, and mum fell ill on the mountain ascent," she stated. "She was asked her to return, without accompaniment. Then the ship departed, seemingly without conducting a passenger count. "At a certain moment in that process, or not long after, mum passed away, without company." Operator Position In a statement, the CEO confirmed that the organization was "cooperating fully with investigators to assist their examination". He stated that the company was "very regretful that this has happened" and had offered its total backing to the family. Shipping Sector Procedures The vessel caters for up to one hundred twenty guests with 46 personnel, according to corporate data. It was purpose-built to enter distant locations of Australia's coast and is fitted with "tenders" - small boats used to transport travelers on shore trips. Incidents such as this are infrequent, and liners have protocols to document which passengers are boarding or getting off, according to travel authorities. "Leaving covertly or [back] on the ship simply isn't an possibility," an authority stated. Shipping companies regard these procedures very seriously and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such incidents from occurring," the specialist added. "This appears to be presumably a shocking - and unfortunate - one-off."