🔗 Share this article

An extensive 60-day journey circling the Australian Coast was terminated in the wake of the fatal incident of an elderly female passenger who was stranded by the vessel on a isolated island.

Suzanne Rees had been trekking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the Coral Adventurer, but separated from the group for a break. The vessel sailed away leaving her and went back after some time after the crew realised the passenger was not present.

A large-scale search operation discovered her remains the next day.

Officials are looking into the event, in coordination with police and the state coroner.

Chief Executive of the shipping company stated that passengers and staff on the Coral Adventurer were told that the rest of the cruise had been cancelled due to the "unfortunate death and earlier technical problems".

Through an announcement, he mentioned that guests would be issued a complete reimbursement, and said the organization was working "to coordinate the homeward trips of the passengers via private aircraft".

Officials also published an updated announcement, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Master" preventing any further travelers from entering the liner.

The official said that they would visit the liner in the Australian city upon its arrival.

Timeline of Events

The liner first departed Cairns on 24 October, and was only 48 hours into the voyage at the moment of the 80-year-old's passing. The remote island was the opening port on the itinerary.

Travelers on the vessel - who typically pay substantial amounts of currency to join the cruise - were taken there for a day trip with the option of hiking or underwater exploration.

Family Statement

The daughter of the deceased woman said that her loved ones was "shocked and saddened that the vessel left the island after an planned tour without my mother".

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

"From the little facts we have been informed, it seems that there was a failure of attention and ordinary reasoning," she mentioned.

She further stated that she wished the investigation would be able to identify what "the organization should have undertaken that might have saved Her existence".

"We understand from the authorities that it was a exceptionally warm day, and mum fell ill on the hill climb," she stated.

"Officials suggested her to go back, without accompaniment. Then the ship sailed away, apparently without performing a headcount.

"At a certain moment in that chain of events, or not long after, she passed away, by herself."

Operator Response

Via official communication, the CEO verified that the operator was "cooperating fully with authorities to assist their inquiry".

He stated that the company was "very regretful that this has occurred" and had extended its total backing to the relatives.

Shipping Sector Practices

The ship accommodates up to 120 passengers with nearly fifty crew, according to official information. It was specially constructed to enter isolated regions of Australia's coast and is fitted with "auxiliary vessels" - compact vessels used to take travelers on day excursions.

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

"Going ashore secretly or [back] on the ship just isn't an option," a specialist stated.

Vessel operators consider these methods with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to stop such events from happening," the authority continued.

"This appears to be probably a stunning - and sad - single occurrence."