🔗 Share this article

A extended cruise around the Land Down Under has been cancelled in the wake of the tragic passing of an elderly lady who was stranded by the vessel on a isolated tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been hiking on Lizard Island with other travelers from the vessel, but parted ways from the party for a rest. The liner sailed away leaving her and went back after some time after the crew became aware the passenger was not present.

A large-scale rescue mission found her remains the following day.

Officials are investigating the tragedy, alongside law enforcement and the medical examiner.

The CEO of the cruise operator said that guests and personnel on the ship were notified that the remainder of the voyage had been terminated due to the "tragic passing and previous technical problems".

Via official communication, he further stated that guests would be issued a full refund, and said the organization was working "to organize the homeward trips of the individuals via chartered flights".

Officials also released an revised statement, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Commander" preventing any additional guests from getting on the ship.

The spokesperson said that they would attend the ship in the Australian city upon its coming back.

Chronology of Occurrences

The vessel originally sailed from Cairns on October 24th, and was merely two days into the journey at the time of the 80-year-old's passing. The remote island was the opening port on the itinerary.

Passengers on the ship - who generally pay tens of thousands of money to take part in the voyage - were transported there for a daily excursion with the possibility of hiking or underwater exploration.

Next of Kin Response

The child of the deceased woman said that her family was "shocked and distressed that the vessel left Lizard Island after an planned outing without my parent".

Via her announcement, she portrayed her mother as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a member of a hiking organization.

"Based on limited information we have been informed, it seems that there was a lapse of attention and basic judgment," she said.

She added that she desired the inquiry would be able to determine what "the organization should have undertaken that might have preserved Mum's life".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a exceptionally warm period, and she took sick on the mountain ascent," she explained.

"She was asked her to return, without accompaniment. Then the ship departed, apparently without doing a passenger count.

"At some stage in that sequence, or not long after, mother succumbed, alone."

Operator Position

Through an announcement, the Chief Executive verified that the operator was "working closely with authorities to aid their examination".

He mentioned that the firm was "extremely apologetic that this has occurred" and had provided its full support to the relatives.

Shipping Sector Procedures

The vessel accommodates up to 120 guests with nearly fifty crew, according to corporate details. It was specifically designed to enter isolated locations of the nation's coast and is equipped with "tenders" - compact vessels used to transport travelers on day excursions.

Incidents of this nature are rare, and liners have protocols to document which travelers are embarking or leaving, according to maritime specialists.

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

Vessel operators take these procedures with great importance and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such incidents from taking place," the authority added.

"This appears to be probably a surprising - and tragic - one-off."