🔗 Share this article

A extended cruise through the Land Down Under has been cancelled following the tragic passing of an senior female passenger who was abandoned by the vessel on a isolated island.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer, but separated from the excursion for a pause. The liner left without her and went back later that day after the ship staff became aware the passenger was missing.

A major search operation discovered her body the following day.

Officials are investigating the incident, alongside investigators and the official investigator.

Chief Executive of the cruise operator announced that guests and personnel on the ship were told that the continuation of the voyage had been called off due to the "unfortunate death and prior engine troubles".

Through an announcement, he added that passengers would be given a total repayment, and said the organization was working "to coordinate the return journeys of the individuals via specially arranged planes".

Regulatory bodies also published an updated announcement, and said they had "issued a notice to the Master" banning any additional guests from entering the vessel.

The official said that they would attend the vessel in Cairns upon its coming back.

Chronology of Occurrences

The vessel originally sailed from the Australian port on the 24th of October, and was just two days into the voyage at the point of the 80-year-old's demise. Lizard Island was the opening port on the journey.

Guests on the vessel - who usually pay substantial amounts of money to join the cruise - were transported there for a day trip with the choice of trekking or snorkeling.

Relatives Statement

The daughter of the deceased woman said that her relatives was "stunned and saddened that the ship left Lizard Island after an planned tour without my mum".

Via her announcement, she described her mum as an "vigorous octogenarian" who was a participant of a hiking organization.

"According to scant facts we have been told, it appears that there was a lapse of attention and ordinary reasoning," she said.

She further stated that she wished the examination would be able to identify what "the organization should have undertaken that might have saved Her existence".

"We understand from the police that it was a exceptionally warm day, and she took sick on the mountain ascent," she revealed.

"Officials suggested her to head down, alone. Then the boat left, reportedly without conducting a headcount.

"During some point in that chain of events, or shortly after, mother died, without company."

Operator Position

In a statement, the Head verified that the operator was "working closely with investigators to support their investigation".

He mentioned that the organization was "extremely apologetic that this has occurred" and had provided its complete assistance to the relatives.

Maritime Business Standards

The ship caters for up to 120 travelers with forty-six staff, according to company data. It was specifically designed to reach isolated areas of the nation's shoreline and is fitted with "small boats" - compact vessels used to ferry travelers on land visits.

Occurrences such as this are infrequent, and cruise ships have systems to document which passengers are getting on or disembarking, according to industry experts.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] aboard simply isn't an option," an authority commented.

Vessel operators consider these methods with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such occurrences from occurring," the authority added.

"This seems to be presumably a surprising - and sad - single occurrence."