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An extensive extended cruise around Australia is being halted in the wake of the death of an elderly female passenger who was left behind by the cruise liner on a distant coastal location.

Suzanne Rees had been walking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the vessel, but separated from the excursion for a rest. The liner left without her and came back later that day after the personnel realised the lady was unaccounted for.

An extensive rescue mission discovered her body the following day.

Investigative bodies are examining the event, in coordination with police and the official investigator.

Head of the cruise operator announced that guests and crew on the vessel were notified that the continuation of the cruise had been terminated due to the "unfortunate death and prior technical problems".

In a statement, he added that travelers would be provided a full refund, and said the organization was working "to organize the return journeys of the travelers via chartered flights".

Officials also published an latest announcement, and said they had "delivered a directive to the Commander" preventing any further travelers from boarding the liner.

The official said that they would attend the vessel in Cairns upon its arrival.

Sequence of Incidents

The liner initially left Cairns on 24 October, and was merely two days into the expedition at the time of the elderly woman's death. The remote island was the initial destination on the itinerary.

Passengers on the ship - who typically pay substantial amounts of currency to participate in the cruise - were taken there for a daily excursion with the option of walking or snorkelling.

Relatives Response

The child of the victim said that her family was "surprised and distressed that the liner left the location after an planned outing without my mum".

Through her comments, she described her parent as an "energetic 80-year-old" who was a affiliate of a walking club.

"According to scant facts we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of responsibility and ordinary reasoning," she said.

She added that she wished the examination would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have undertaken that might have protected Her existence".

"Based on information from the authorities that it was a very hot day, and mum fell ill on the hill climb," she stated.

"They requested her to return, without accompaniment. Then the ship sailed away, reportedly without performing a passenger count.

"At some stage in that process, or not long after, mum died, by herself."

Company Reaction

Via official communication, the Head confirmed that the company was "cooperating fully with officials to support their investigation".

He mentioned that the company was "extremely apologetic that this has happened" and had provided its full support to the family.

Maritime Business Practices

The ship serves up to one hundred twenty guests with nearly fifty crew, according to official details. It was specially constructed to reach isolated regions of the nation's coastline and is outfitted with "auxiliary vessels" - small boats used to ferry travelers on land visits.

Events such as this are uncommon, and liners have procedures to track which individuals are embarking or getting off, according to industry experts.

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

Shipping companies consider these processes extremely carefully and have "clever tech in place to prevent such events from happening," the specialist continued.

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