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One two-month journey through Australia has been cancelled following the fatal incident of an older lady who was left behind by the vessel on a remote coastal location.

The elderly woman had been walking on Lizard Island with other travelers from the vessel, but broke off from the party for a rest. The vessel left without her and went back later that day after the ship staff realised the lady was not present.

A major rescue mission discovered her person the next day.

Authorities are looking into the incident, in coordination with investigators and the medical examiner.

Chief Executive of the voyage organizer said that passengers and staff on the vessel were told that the remainder of the journey had been cancelled due to the "tragic passing and earlier engine troubles".

Via official communication, he further stated that passengers would be given a complete reimbursement, and said the organization was working "to coordinate the travel back of the individuals via specially arranged planes".

Officials also issued an updated announcement, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Commander" preventing any additional guests from boarding the vessel.

The official said that they would inspect the ship in Cairns upon its return.

Sequence of Events

The ship first departed Cairns on October 24th, and was only 48 hours into the expedition at the point of the elderly woman's demise. Lizard Island was the opening port on the journey.

Travelers on board - who generally pay substantial amounts of money to take part in the cruise - were taken there for a day trip with the choice of walking or snorkeling.

Family Statement

The daughter of the elderly passenger said that her relatives was "shocked and distressed that the ship left the location after an organised excursion without my parent".

In her statement, she characterized her mother as an "active elderly person" who was a affiliate of a walking group.

"From the little facts we have been provided, it seems that there was a failure of care and basic judgment," she stated.

She continued that she hoped the examination would be able to determine what "the organization should have done that might have protected Her existence".

"According to reports from the investigators that it was a very hot day, and mother became unwell on the uphill trek," she revealed.

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

"At some stage in that chain of events, or soon after, she passed away, without company."

Operator Position

Through an announcement, the Chief Executive affirmed that the operator was "working closely with investigators to assist their investigation".

He mentioned that the organization was "extremely apologetic that this has transpired" and had offered its total backing to the relatives.

Maritime Business Practices

The liner caters for up to a hundred twenty travelers with forty-six staff, according to corporate details. It was specially constructed to reach distant areas of the Australian coast and is fitted with "auxiliary vessels" - minor craft used to ferry individuals on shore trips.

Events such as this are infrequent, and passenger vessels have procedures to track which passengers are getting on or getting off, according to travel authorities.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] onboard really isn't an option," a specialist stated.

Shipping companies regard these procedures extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to avoid such events from occurring," the authority further stated.

"This appears to be presumably a shocking - and unfortunate - one-off."