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One extended cruise circling Australia was terminated days after the fatal incident of an elderly woman who was left behind by the vessel on a isolated tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on the remote island with other travelers from the cruise ship, but broke off from the group for a break. The liner left without her and came back later that day after the crew realised the lady was unaccounted for.

A major search operation found her body the subsequent day.

Authorities are examining the incident, together with investigators and the medical examiner.

Head of the shipping company announced that passengers and crew on the ship were informed that the continuation of the journey had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and prior mechanical issues".

Via official communication, he added that passengers would be provided a total repayment, and said the company was working "to organize the return journeys of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Authorities also issued an revised announcement, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Commander" prohibiting any new passengers from boarding the vessel.

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

Chronology of Events

The vessel initially left the Australian port on 24 October, and was just two days into the voyage at the point of the senior passenger's death. Lizard Island was the initial destination on the voyage.

Passengers on the ship - who typically pay substantial amounts of money to take part in the cruise - were transported there for a day trip with the choice of hiking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Response

The child of the victim said that her relatives was "stunned and distressed that the ship left Lizard Island after an organised excursion without my mother".

Through her comments, she characterized her mother as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a member of a bushwalking club.

"Based on limited information we have been informed, it seems that there was a lapse of care and ordinary reasoning," she said.

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

"According to reports from the investigators that it was a very hot period, and mum became unwell on the mountain ascent," she explained.

"They requested her to go back, alone. Then the boat left, apparently without doing a headcount.

"During some point in that process, or shortly after, she passed away, alone."

Company Reaction

Via official communication, the Head affirmed that the company was "collaborating extensively with investigators to aid their investigation".

He said that the firm was "deeply sorry that this has happened" and had extended its total backing to the relatives.

Cruise Industry Procedures

The vessel serves up to a hundred twenty travelers with forty-six staff, according to corporate data. It was purpose-built to enter distant locations of Australia's coastline and is fitted with "small boats" - compact vessels used to ferry individuals on land visits.

Occurrences such as this are rare, and passenger vessels have systems to record which individuals are getting on or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] onboard simply isn't an choice," one expert commented.

Shipping companies consider these procedures very seriously and have "sophisticated systems in place to avoid such occurrences from happening," the expert continued.

"This seems to be most likely a surprising - and tragic - one-off."