🔗 Share this article

One 60-day cruise circling the Land Down Under has been cancelled following the death of an older woman who was stranded by the ship on a distant island.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on the remote island with other travelers from the vessel, but parted ways from the party for a rest. The vessel sailed away leaving her and returned later that day after the ship staff realised the lady was missing.

An extensive hunt discovered her body the subsequent day.

Officials are investigating the tragedy, alongside police and the official investigator.

Head of the voyage organizer announced that travelers and crew on the ship were informed that the continuation of the journey had been called off due to the "tragic passing and prior technical problems".

Via official communication, he mentioned that travelers would be issued a full refund, and said the operator was working "to organize the return journeys of the passengers via specially arranged planes".

Officials also released an revised announcement, and said they had "issued a order to the Master" banning any further travelers from entering the vessel.

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

Timeline of Events

The ship initially left Cairns on October 24th, and was merely two days into the expedition at the time of the senior passenger's death. The tropical location was the opening port on the journey.

Travelers on the vessel - who typically pay large sums of currency to participate in the cruise - were ferried there for a shore visit with the option of hiking or snorkeling.

Family Reaction

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

Via her announcement, she described her mum as an "vigorous elderly person" who was a member of a walking organization.

"According to scant information we have been provided, it appears that there was a lapse of attention and common sense," she said.

She added that she wished the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have undertaken that might have protected Mother's existence".

"According to reports from the authorities that it was a very hot afternoon, and mum became unwell on the uphill trek," she explained.

"Officials suggested her to return, without accompaniment. Then the boat sailed away, reportedly without doing a roll call.

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

Operator Position

Via official communication, the Chief Executive confirmed that the operator was "cooperating fully with authorities to support their examination".

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

Shipping Sector Procedures

The vessel accommodates up to one hundred twenty travelers with 46 crew, according to official information. It was purpose-built to reach remote areas of the nation's coastline and is equipped with "small boats" - compact vessels used to take passengers on shore trips.

Occurrences such as this are uncommon, and passenger vessels have systems to track which individuals are embarking or leaving, according to industry experts.

"Leaving covertly or [back] on the ship really isn't an choice," an authority commented.

Cruise lines consider these methods extremely carefully and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such incidents from happening," the specialist continued.

"This is most likely a surprising - and unfortunate - one-off."