🔗 Share this article Cruise Terminated After Death of Female Passenger Abandoned on Island The Remote Island is about 150+ kilometers north of Cairns An extensive 60-day cruise circling the Australian Coast is being halted days after the death of an senior female passenger who was stranded by the ship on a distant island. Suzanne Rees had been trekking on the tropical location with fellow passengers from the vessel, but parted ways from the group for a break. The ship departed without her and went back after some time after the crew realised the passenger was not present. A large-scale rescue mission located her body the following day. Authorities are looking into the incident, together with law enforcement and the medical examiner. Head of the voyage organizer stated that travelers and personnel on the vessel were told that the rest of the journey had been called off due to the "unfortunate death and prior mechanical issues". In a statement, he mentioned that travelers would be issued a full refund, and said the organization was working "to arrange the travel back of the individuals via specially arranged planes". Authorities also issued an updated announcement, and said they had "issued a order to the Commander" preventing any new passengers from boarding the ship. The spokesperson said that they would visit the liner in the port city upon its arrival. Timeline of Incidents The liner originally sailed from the coastal city on 24 October, and was merely two days into the voyage at the time of the elderly woman's death. Lizard Island was the initial destination on the itinerary. Travelers on the vessel - who usually pay substantial amounts of dollars to join the cruise - were ferried there for a daily excursion with the option of trekking or underwater exploration. Next of Kin Statement The offspring of the victim said that her relatives was "surprised and saddened that the ship left the island after an organised outing without my parent". In her statement, she described her parent as an "energetic octogenarian" who was a affiliate of a bushwalking club. "Based on limited details we have been provided, it appears that there was a breakdown of attention and ordinary reasoning," she stated. She added that she desired the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the organization should have performed that might have preserved Her life". "We understand from the investigators that it was a very hot day, and mum took sick on the uphill trek," she revealed. "They requested her to go back, without accompaniment. Then the boat left, seemingly without performing a headcount. "During some point in that chain of events, or not long after, mother passed away, by herself." Operator Position Through an announcement, the Head affirmed that the company was "working closely with authorities to support their examination". He stated that the company was "very regretful that this has occurred" and had offered its full support to the loved ones. Maritime Business Procedures The vessel caters for up to a hundred twenty passengers with forty-six crew, according to corporate information. It was purpose-built to enter remote regions of the Australian coastline and is equipped with "tenders" - compact vessels used to ferry individuals on shore trips. Occurrences such as this are rare, and cruise ships have systems to record which passengers are getting on or getting off, according to maritime specialists. "Going ashore secretly or [back] on the ship really isn't an option," a specialist stated. Shipping companies consider these procedures with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to avoid such incidents from happening," the expert continued. "This appears to be probably a shocking - and tragic - one-off."