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An extensive two-month cruise through the Australian Coast has been cancelled in the wake of the death of an elderly woman who was left behind by the vessel on a isolated coastal location.

The elderly woman had been walking on Lizard Island with shipmates from the vessel, but broke off from the group for a pause. The vessel departed without her and went back several hours later after the ship staff discovered the passenger was missing.

An extensive rescue mission discovered her person the subsequent day.

Investigative bodies are looking into the tragedy, together with investigators and the official investigator.

Head of the cruise operator stated that travelers and personnel on the vessel were informed that the rest of the journey had been terminated due to the "tragic passing and earlier mechanical issues".

Through an announcement, he mentioned that travelers would be given a total repayment, and said the company was working "to organize the travel back of the travelers via chartered flights".

Regulatory bodies also issued an updated announcement, and said they had "provided a order to the Commander" preventing any additional guests from boarding the ship.

The spokesperson said that they would inspect the vessel in Cairns upon its return.

Sequence of Incidents

The vessel initially left the coastal city on 24 October, and was only 48 hours into the voyage at the moment of the 80-year-old's passing. Lizard Island was the first stop on the voyage.

Guests on the ship - who typically pay substantial amounts of money to participate in the expedition - were transported there for a day trip with the choice of hiking or snorkeling.

Next of Kin Statement

The child of the elderly passenger said that her family was "shocked and grieved that the ship left the island after an scheduled outing without my mother".

In her statement, she described her mother as an "active octogenarian" who was a participant of a walking club.

"According to scant facts we have been provided, it seems that there was a breakdown of attention and common sense," she stated.

She further stated that she hoped the investigation would be able to pinpoint what "the organization should have done that might have protected Her existence".

"Based on information from the investigators that it was a extremely warm day, and mother took sick on the mountain ascent," she revealed.

"They requested her to head down, alone. Then the vessel left, seemingly without performing a passenger count.

"During some point in that process, or soon after, mother died, by herself."

Organization Position

Via official communication, the Chief Executive affirmed that the operator was "cooperating fully with investigators to aid their inquiry".

He said that the firm was "very regretful that this has happened" and had extended its full support to the family.

Shipping Sector Standards

The ship caters for up to one hundred twenty guests with forty-six staff, according to corporate information. It was specifically designed to reach isolated areas of Australia's shoreline and is outfitted with "small boats" - small boats used to ferry passengers on land visits.

Events such as this are rare, and liners have systems to track which individuals are getting on or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] aboard really isn't an option," a specialist commented.

Shipping companies consider these methods with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such events from happening," the authority added.

"This appears to be most likely a stunning - and unfortunate - isolated incident."