🔗 Share this article

One 60-day journey around the Australian Coast has been cancelled days after the fatal incident of an older lady who was abandoned by the cruise liner on a remote island.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on the remote island with shipmates from the cruise ship, but separated from the party for a break. The ship left without her and returned several hours later after the ship staff discovered the lady was missing.

A large-scale rescue mission discovered her person the following day.

Investigative bodies are examining the incident, together with investigators and the official investigator.

Chief Executive of the shipping company announced that travelers and crew on the vessel were told that the rest of the voyage had been terminated due to the "tragic passing and prior engine troubles".

Via official communication, he added that travelers would be provided a full refund, and said the operator was working "to organize the travel back of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Authorities also released an latest statement, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Captain" preventing any additional guests from boarding the vessel.

The official said that they would visit the liner in the port city upon its return.

Chronology of Events

The ship initially left the coastal city on 24 October, and was only 48 hours into the journey at the point of the 80-year-old's demise. Lizard Island was the opening port on the voyage.

Passengers on the ship - who generally pay tens of thousands of dollars to participate in the expedition - were transported there for a shore visit with the option of hiking or snorkelling.

Family Statement

The daughter of the victim said that her loved ones was "stunned and distressed that the vessel left the location after an planned tour without my parent".

Via her announcement, she portrayed her parent as an "vigorous 80-year-old" who was a member of a walking club.

"According to scant details we have been informed, it appears that there was a breakdown of attention and common sense," she mentioned.

She further stated that she hoped the inquiry would be able to identify what "the operator should have undertaken that might have protected Her life".

"We understand from the police that it was a extremely warm period, and mum took sick on the uphill trek," she explained.

"Officials suggested her to return, alone. Then the vessel left, reportedly without doing a passenger count.

"At a certain moment in that sequence, or soon after, she succumbed, alone."

Organization Position

Through an announcement, the Head verified that the operator was "cooperating fully with investigators to aid their examination".

He mentioned that the firm was "deeply sorry that this has transpired" and had provided its complete assistance to the loved ones.

Shipping Sector Procedures

The ship serves up to a hundred twenty travelers with nearly fifty crew, according to official data. It was specially constructed to access isolated regions of the Australian coast and is outfitted with "tenders" - compact vessels used to take passengers on shore trips.

Incidents of this nature are infrequent, and passenger vessels have protocols to track which passengers are embarking or leaving, according to maritime specialists.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] on the ship simply isn't an possibility," an authority commented.

Cruise lines consider these procedures extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such occurrences from occurring," the expert further stated.

"This appears to be most likely a stunning - and tragic - single occurrence."