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One two-month journey circling Australia was terminated in the wake of the tragic passing of an older woman who was left behind by the cruise liner on a isolated tropical isle.

Suzanne Rees had been trekking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the Coral Adventurer, but separated from the group for a break. The vessel left without her and went back later that day after the crew realised the passenger was missing.

An extensive search operation discovered her person the next day.

Officials are investigating the event, in coordination with law enforcement and the official investigator.

The CEO of the voyage organizer said that guests and personnel on the vessel were informed that the rest of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and earlier engine troubles".

In a statement, he further stated that passengers would be given a total repayment, and said the operator was working "to arrange the return journeys of the individuals via private aircraft".

Regulatory bodies also issued an latest communication, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Commander" preventing any additional guests from getting on the vessel.

The spokesperson said that they would inspect the ship in the port city upon its return.

Chronology of Events

The liner originally sailed from the coastal city on the 24th of October, and was just two days into the voyage at the time of the 80-year-old's passing. The tropical location was the initial destination on the journey.

Travelers on the vessel - who usually pay tens of thousands of dollars to participate in the voyage - were transported there for a day trip with the option of walking or snorkeling.

Relatives Statement

The offspring of the elderly passenger said that her loved ones was "stunned and grieved that the vessel left the location after an scheduled outing without my mother".

Via her announcement, she portrayed her mum as an "active octogenarian" who was a member of a bushwalking club.

"According to scant details we have been informed, it looks that there was a lapse of attention and ordinary reasoning," she said.

She further stated that she wished the inquiry would be able to determine what "the operator should have undertaken that might have protected Mother's being".

"Based on information from the police that it was a very hot afternoon, and mum became unwell on the hill climb," she explained.

"They requested her to head down, unescorted. Then the vessel sailed away, apparently without conducting a passenger count.

"At a certain moment in that chain of events, or soon after, she died, alone."

Operator Reaction

Via official communication, the CEO confirmed that the operator was "working closely with investigators to assist their inquiry".

He said that the organization was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and had extended its complete assistance to the relatives.

Maritime Business Practices

The vessel serves up to 120 travelers with 46 crew, according to company data. It was purpose-built to reach isolated areas of Australia's shoreline and is fitted with "small boats" - compact vessels used to transport travelers on day excursions.

Occurrences of this nature are rare, and passenger vessels have protocols to record which individuals are getting on or leaving, according to industry experts.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] aboard just isn't an possibility," one expert stated.

Shipping companies take these methods with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such events from happening," the expert continued.

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