🔗 Share this article

An extensive 60-day journey around the Land Down Under has been cancelled following the tragic passing of an older female passenger who was stranded by the ship on a distant island.

Suzanne Rees had been hiking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer, but parted ways from the party for a break. The ship left without her and returned several hours later after the crew became aware the lady was unaccounted for.

A large-scale search operation found her body the following day.

Authorities are examining the tragedy, together with investigators and the official investigator.

Chief Executive of the voyage organizer said that passengers and personnel on the vessel were notified that the continuation of the voyage had been called off due to the "unfortunate death and previous technical problems".

In a statement, he added that passengers would be given a full refund, and said the company was working "to organize the travel back of the passengers via specially arranged planes".

Regulatory bodies also released an revised announcement, and said they had "provided a directive to the Commander" preventing any additional guests from entering the liner.

The representative said that they would visit the liner in the port city upon its return.

Timeline of Events

The ship first departed Cairns on 24 October, and was just two days into the expedition at the moment of the senior passenger's passing. The remote island was the opening port on the voyage.

Travelers on board - who typically pay large sums of money to join the voyage - were taken there for a daily excursion with the choice of walking or snorkelling.

Family Reaction

The child of the victim said that her loved ones was "shocked and saddened that the ship left the location after an organised tour without my mother".

Via her announcement, she described her mother as an "active 80-year-old" who was a member of a walking organization.

"From the little details we have been provided, it appears that there was a breakdown of care and common sense," she said.

She added that she wished the inquiry would be able to identify what "the organization should have undertaken that might have protected Mother's life".

"According to reports from the investigators that it was a extremely warm afternoon, and mum became unwell on the uphill trek," she stated.

"She was asked her to head down, alone. Then the ship departed, reportedly without performing a passenger count.

"At a certain moment in that process, or soon after, mum passed away, by herself."

Organization Position

In a statement, the Chief Executive confirmed that the company was "cooperating fully with authorities to assist their examination".

He stated that the firm was "extremely apologetic that this has happened" and had offered its complete assistance to the relatives.

Maritime Business Practices

The ship accommodates up to a hundred twenty passengers with nearly fifty staff, according to corporate data. It was specifically designed to enter remote locations of the nation's coastline and is equipped with "tenders" - compact vessels used to ferry travelers on shore trips.

Incidents like this are uncommon, and liners have systems to document which travelers are embarking or leaving, according to maritime specialists.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] on the ship really isn't an choice," an authority stated.

Shipping companies regard these procedures with great importance and have "clever tech in place to prevent such events from taking place," the authority continued.

"This seems to be probably a shocking - and sad - isolated incident."