🔗 Share this article

A 60-day voyage through Australia is being halted in the wake of the death of an senior woman who was left behind by the vessel on a isolated island.

Suzanne Rees had been hiking on the remote island with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer, but parted ways from the party for a pause. The liner sailed away leaving her and returned several hours later after the ship staff became aware the woman was missing.

A major rescue mission found her remains the subsequent day.

Authorities are investigating the event, alongside police and the official investigator.

The CEO of the voyage organizer said that guests and crew on the ship were informed that the remainder of the voyage had been cancelled due to the "unfortunate death and previous technical problems".

Via official communication, he mentioned that passengers would be given a full refund, and said the company was working "to organize the homeward trips of the individuals via private aircraft".

Officials also published an updated communication, and said they had "issued a order to the Master" preventing any additional guests from getting on the vessel.

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

Chronology of Occurrences

The ship first departed Cairns on the 24th of October, and was only 48 hours into the voyage at the moment of the elderly woman's passing. The remote island was the initial destination on the journey.

Travelers on the ship - who typically pay tens of thousands of dollars to take part in the cruise - were taken there for a day trip with the choice of hiking or snorkelling.

Relatives Statement

The offspring of the victim said that her family was "surprised and saddened that the ship left Lizard Island after an planned outing without my mother".

Through her comments, she described her parent as an "active octogenarian" who was a member of a hiking organization.

"According to scant facts we have been informed, it seems that there was a breakdown of responsibility and common sense," she stated.

She continued that she hoped the examination would be able to determine what "the organization should have performed that might have preserved Her life".

"According to reports from the authorities that it was a extremely warm afternoon, and mother became unwell on the mountain ascent," she revealed.

"Officials suggested her to go back, unescorted. Then the vessel sailed away, apparently without doing a headcount.

"At a certain moment in that process, or shortly after, mum died, alone."

Company Reaction

Through an announcement, the Head confirmed that the organization was "working closely with investigators to aid their inquiry".

He said that the firm was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and had offered its total backing to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Standards

The ship caters for up to one hundred twenty guests with 46 staff, according to company details. It was specially constructed to reach remote locations of the Australian coast and is fitted with "auxiliary vessels" - compact vessels used to take individuals on day excursions.

Events of this nature are rare, and cruise ships have protocols to document which travelers are embarking or disembarking, according to maritime specialists.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] on the ship really isn't an choice," a specialist stated.

Cruise lines regard these methods very seriously and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such events from happening," the expert further stated.

"This seems to be presumably a shocking - and unfortunate - one-off."