🔗 Share this article

An extensive extended journey circling Australia is being halted days after the death of an elderly female passenger who was left behind by the cruise liner on a remote island.

Suzanne Rees had been hiking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the cruise ship, but separated from the excursion for a break. The ship departed without her and returned several hours later after the personnel discovered the passenger was not present.

A major hunt located her remains the following day.

Investigative bodies are investigating the incident, together with police and the medical examiner.

Chief Executive of the shipping company stated that passengers and crew on the vessel were informed that the continuation of the voyage had been cancelled due to the "sad loss and prior engine troubles".

Via official communication, he mentioned that guests would be provided a full refund, and said the company was working "to organize the return journeys of the travelers via private aircraft".

Regulatory bodies also published an updated communication, and said they had "issued a notice to the Captain" banning any new passengers from getting on the liner.

The spokesperson said that they would visit the liner in Cairns upon its return.

Timeline of Occurrences

The ship originally sailed from Cairns on 24 October, and was just two days into the expedition at the moment of the senior passenger's passing. The tropical location was the opening port on the itinerary.

Guests on the ship - who typically pay large sums of currency to participate in the cruise - were ferried there for a day trip with the choice of walking or snorkeling.

Relatives Statement

The child of the victim said that her relatives was "surprised and grieved that the liner left Lizard Island after an organised outing without my mother".

In her statement, she described her parent as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a participant of a walking group.

"According to scant information we have been provided, it looks that there was a lapse of responsibility and basic judgment," she stated.

She further stated that she desired the inquiry would be able to identify what "the organization should have done that might have protected Her life".

"According to reports from the police that it was a exceptionally warm day, and she took sick on the mountain ascent," she stated.

"They requested her to go back, alone. Then the vessel left, reportedly without performing a passenger count.

"During some point in that sequence, or not long after, mother died, alone."

Operator Reaction

Through an announcement, the Chief Executive confirmed that the organization was "working closely with authorities to support their examination".

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

Maritime Business Standards

The liner caters for up to 120 guests with nearly fifty personnel, according to corporate information. It was specially constructed to access isolated locations of the Australian coast and is outfitted with "tenders" - minor craft used to ferry travelers on day excursions.

Incidents such as this are infrequent, and passenger vessels have systems to track which travelers are embarking or disembarking, according to maritime specialists.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] on the ship just isn't an option," a specialist remarked.

Shipping companies regard these processes with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such incidents from occurring," the specialist further stated.

"This seems to be probably a shocking - and sad - one-off."