🔗 Share this article

One two-month journey through the Land Down Under is being halted in the wake of the fatal incident of an elderly lady who was left behind by the vessel on a remote tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been trekking on Lizard Island with other travelers from the cruise ship, but broke off from the party for a rest. The vessel sailed away leaving her and went back several hours later after the crew realised the lady was unaccounted for.

An extensive rescue mission found her person the following day.

Authorities are examining the event, in coordination with police and the medical examiner.

Chief Executive of the cruise operator announced that travelers and staff on the Coral Adventurer were informed that the continuation of the journey had been terminated due to the "unfortunate death and prior technical problems".

Via official communication, he further stated that passengers would be issued a full refund, and said the company was working "to arrange the return journeys of the individuals via specially arranged planes".

Officials also published an revised statement, and said they had "delivered a order to the Captain" banning any new passengers from entering the liner.

The spokesperson said that they would attend the vessel in the Australian city upon its arrival.

Timeline of Incidents

The vessel initially left Cairns on October 24th, and was merely two days into the journey at the moment of the elderly woman's passing. The remote island was the first stop on the itinerary.

Passengers on the ship - who usually pay tens of thousands of money to participate in the expedition - were ferried there for a shore visit with the option of trekking or snorkeling.

Relatives Reaction

The daughter of the deceased woman said that her loved ones was "surprised and distressed that the vessel left Lizard Island after an scheduled excursion without my mum".

Through her comments, she described her mother as an "vigorous 80-year-old" who was a member of a walking organization.

"According to scant details we have been provided, it seems that there was a lapse of attention and ordinary reasoning," she said.

She added that she hoped the investigation would be able to determine what "the company should have performed that might have protected Mum's existence".

"Based on information from the investigators that it was a extremely warm afternoon, and she fell ill on the mountain ascent," she revealed.

"Officials suggested her to head down, alone. Then the ship sailed away, apparently without performing a headcount.

"During some point in that process, or shortly after, mum succumbed, alone."

Operator Position

Through an announcement, the Head affirmed that the organization was "collaborating extensively with authorities to aid their inquiry".

He stated that the company was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and had provided its full support to the relatives.

Shipping Sector Practices

The vessel caters for up to one hundred twenty travelers with nearly fifty crew, according to company details. It was purpose-built to enter isolated regions of the Australian coastline and is equipped with "auxiliary vessels" - compact vessels used to take travelers on land visits.

Events of this nature are uncommon, and liners have protocols to document which passengers are boarding or leaving, according to industry experts.

"Leaving covertly or [back] on the ship just isn't an choice," a specialist stated.

Vessel operators regard these processes extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such incidents from taking place," the expert further stated.

"This seems to be most likely a shocking - and sad - isolated incident."