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One extended voyage circling the Australian Coast has been cancelled days after the death of an elderly woman who was stranded by the cruise liner on a distant tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been hiking on Lizard Island with other travelers from the Coral Adventurer, but separated from the group for a pause. The ship left without her and went back later that day after the ship staff became aware the lady was not present.

A major search operation found her remains the next day.

Authorities are investigating the tragedy, together with police and the state coroner.

Head of the cruise operator stated that guests and crew on the Coral Adventurer were notified that the rest of the voyage had been called off due to the "tragic passing and previous engine troubles".

Via official communication, he mentioned that travelers would be issued a full refund, and said the operator was working "to coordinate the travel back of the travelers via chartered flights".

Officials also issued an latest communication, and said they had "issued a directive to the Captain" prohibiting any further travelers from getting on the liner.

The official said that they would inspect the ship in the Australian city upon its return.

Sequence of Incidents

The ship initially left the Australian port on the 24th of October, and was just two days into the expedition at the point of the 80-year-old's demise. Lizard Island was the opening port on the journey.

Guests on the ship - who typically pay large sums of dollars to join the expedition - were ferried there for a day trip with the choice of walking or snorkelling.

Next of Kin Reaction

The daughter of the elderly passenger said that her family was "shocked and grieved that the vessel left Lizard Island after an organised excursion without my mother".

Via her announcement, she characterized her mum as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a member of a bushwalking group.

"Based on limited details we have been provided, it appears that there was a failure of responsibility and basic judgment," she stated.

She continued that she desired the inquiry would be able to determine what "the company should have done that might have saved Mum's life".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a extremely warm period, and she fell ill on the uphill trek," she revealed.

"Officials suggested her to head down, alone. Then the vessel sailed away, apparently without conducting a passenger count.

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

Operator Response

In a statement, the Chief Executive confirmed that the company was "collaborating extensively with officials to assist their examination".

He stated that the organization was "very regretful that this has transpired" and had offered its total backing to the family.

Shipping Sector Procedures

The liner caters for up to 120 passengers with forty-six staff, according to official information. It was specifically designed to reach isolated regions of the Australian coast and is fitted with "small boats" - compact vessels used to ferry individuals on shore trips.

Events such as this are uncommon, and passenger vessels have systems to track which individuals are boarding or getting off, according to travel authorities.

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

Vessel operators consider these procedures very seriously and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such occurrences from happening," the specialist further stated.

"This is presumably a shocking - and sad - single occurrence."