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A two-month cruise circling the Australian Coast is being halted following the fatal incident of an elderly woman who was stranded by the ship on a remote island.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer, but parted ways from the group for a pause. The liner sailed away leaving her and went back after some time after the ship staff realised the woman was unaccounted for.

A major search operation found her body the next day.

Officials are looking into the event, alongside law enforcement and the medical examiner.

Chief Executive of the cruise operator announced that passengers and crew on the vessel were told that the rest of the cruise had been terminated due to the "unfortunate death and previous engine troubles".

In a statement, he mentioned that passengers would be issued a full refund, and said the company was working "to coordinate the homeward trips of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Officials also published an updated statement, and said they had "provided a notice to the Commander" preventing any further travelers from getting on the liner.

The spokesperson said that they would inspect the liner in the Australian city upon its arrival.

Timeline of Occurrences

The vessel initially left the coastal city on October 24th, and was just two days into the expedition at the time of the elderly woman's death. The remote island was the initial destination on the journey.

Travelers on board - who generally pay large sums of dollars to participate in the cruise - were ferried there for a shore visit with the possibility of trekking or snorkelling.

Family Statement

The child of the deceased woman said that her relatives was "stunned and grieved that the vessel left the island after an organised excursion without my parent".

In her statement, she characterized her mum as an "active elderly person" who was a participant of a bushwalking group.

"From the little information we have been provided, it appears that there was a lapse of care and ordinary reasoning," she mentioned.

She continued that she hoped the investigation would be able to identify what "the operator should have done that might have saved Her being".

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

"Officials suggested her to return, alone. Then the vessel sailed away, apparently without performing a headcount.

"At a certain moment in that process, or soon after, she died, alone."

Operator Response

In a statement, the Head confirmed that the company was "working closely with officials to aid their examination".

He said that the company was "extremely apologetic that this has occurred" and had offered its total backing to the family.

Shipping Sector Practices

The ship accommodates up to 120 guests with 46 personnel, according to company data. It was specially constructed to access isolated locations of the nation's shoreline and is equipped with "tenders" - compact vessels used to ferry travelers on shore trips.

Incidents such as this are uncommon, and liners have procedures to document which passengers are embarking or getting off, according to maritime specialists.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] aboard just isn't an choice," an authority commented.

Cruise lines consider these procedures extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such incidents from occurring," the expert continued.

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