🔗 Share this article

One 60-day journey through the Land Down Under has been cancelled following the tragic passing of an older lady who was left behind by the cruise liner on a isolated coastal location.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on the remote island with other travelers from the cruise ship, but separated from the group for a break. The vessel departed without her and came back later that day after the crew discovered the woman was not present.

A major rescue mission found her remains the next day.

Officials are examining the tragedy, in coordination with law enforcement and the state coroner.

Head of the shipping company announced that travelers and personnel on the Coral Adventurer were informed that the continuation of the journey had been terminated due to the "sad loss and earlier engine troubles".

In a statement, he added that travelers would be issued a complete reimbursement, and said the organization was working "to arrange the travel back of the individuals via private aircraft".

Regulatory bodies also issued an updated announcement, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Master" preventing any additional guests from boarding the ship.

The spokesperson said that they would attend the liner in the port city upon its coming back.

Chronology of Events

The vessel originally sailed from the coastal city on October 24th, and was only 48 hours into the journey at the point of the 80-year-old's demise. The remote island was the initial destination on the voyage.

Passengers on the vessel - who generally pay large sums of currency to take part in the expedition - were transported there for a shore visit with the option of hiking or snorkeling.

Relatives Statement

The child of the elderly passenger said that her loved ones was "shocked and saddened that the vessel left Lizard Island after an planned outing without my mum".

In her statement, she described her mum as an "active elderly person" who was a participant of a hiking group.

"From the little details we have been provided, it looks that there was a failure of responsibility and ordinary reasoning," she stated.

She added that she hoped the inquiry would be able to identify what "the organization should have performed that might have preserved Mother's being".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a very hot period, and mother took sick on the mountain ascent," she stated.

"She was asked her to return, without accompaniment. Then the ship left, apparently without performing a headcount.

"At some stage in that chain of events, or shortly after, mother passed away, alone."

Organization Reaction

Through an announcement, the Head confirmed that the operator was "collaborating extensively with investigators to support their investigation".

He said that the organization was "deeply sorry that this has transpired" and had offered its full support to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Procedures

The ship serves up to 120 guests with nearly fifty crew, according to official data. It was specifically designed to reach distant regions of the nation's shoreline and is fitted with "auxiliary vessels" - compact vessels used to transport travelers on day excursions.

Events such as this are rare, and cruise ships have systems to record which travelers are boarding or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] aboard really isn't an option," one expert stated.

Cruise lines regard these procedures extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such incidents from occurring," the expert added.

"This is most likely a shocking - and sad - single occurrence."