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A 60-day cruise around the Australian Coast is being halted in the wake of the death of an elderly woman who was abandoned by the vessel on a isolated island.

The elderly woman had been walking on the remote island with shipmates from the vessel, but separated from the excursion for a rest. The vessel left without her and went back later that day after the personnel became aware the lady was not present.

A large-scale rescue mission discovered her person the next day.

Authorities are examining the incident, alongside investigators and the state coroner.

Head of the shipping company stated that passengers and crew on the ship were told that the rest of the journey had been terminated due to the "tragic passing and previous engine troubles".

In a statement, he further stated that passengers would be given a total repayment, and said the organization was working "to organize the homeward trips of the passengers via private aircraft".

Officials also issued an updated announcement, and said they had "issued a notice to the Commander" banning any new passengers from boarding the ship.

The official said that they would attend the ship in the Australian city upon its arrival.

Sequence of Occurrences

The vessel initially left Cairns on the 24th of October, and was just two days into the voyage at the moment of the senior passenger's passing. Lizard Island was the first stop on the voyage.

Guests on the vessel - who generally pay large sums of money to join the expedition - were transported there for a daily excursion with the choice of walking or snorkelling.

Relatives Reaction

The daughter of the victim said that her family was "shocked and distressed that the liner left Lizard Island after an scheduled outing without my parent".

In her statement, she characterized her parent as an "energetic elderly person" who was a affiliate of a bushwalking organization.

"Based on limited facts we have been told, it appears that there was a breakdown of attention and basic judgment," she said.

She continued that she hoped the examination would be able to determine what "the company should have done that might have preserved Mum's life".

"According to reports from the investigators that it was a very hot day, and mother took sick on the hill climb," she stated.

"Officials suggested her to return, alone. Then the vessel departed, seemingly without conducting a passenger count.

"During some point in that sequence, or shortly after, mum succumbed, alone."

Organization Reaction

Through an announcement, the Head verified that the company was "cooperating fully with authorities to assist their inquiry".

He stated that the organization was "very regretful that this has transpired" and had extended its full support to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Standards

The vessel serves up to 120 passengers with forty-six crew, according to corporate data. It was specially constructed to enter distant locations of Australia's shoreline and is equipped with "small boats" - compact vessels used to transport individuals on day excursions.

Incidents such as this are infrequent, and passenger vessels have protocols to document which travelers are getting on or leaving, according to industry experts.

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

Vessel operators consider these procedures very seriously and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such events from happening," the specialist continued.

"This seems to be most likely a surprising - and tragic - isolated incident."