🔗 Share this article

A two-month voyage through the Australian Coast has been cancelled days after the tragic passing of an older lady who was abandoned by the cruise liner on a remote island.

The elderly woman had been hiking on the remote island with other travelers from the vessel, but broke off from the excursion for a rest. The vessel sailed away leaving her and came back several hours later after the crew discovered the woman was not present.

A major rescue mission found her body the next day.

Investigative bodies are examining the tragedy, together with law enforcement and the official investigator.

Chief Executive of the cruise operator announced that travelers and crew on the Coral Adventurer were notified that the remainder of the voyage had been called off due to the "sad loss and prior engine troubles".

In a statement, he added that guests would be issued a full refund, and said the organization was working "to coordinate the travel back of the individuals via chartered flights".

Officials also issued an updated statement, and said they had "delivered a order to the Captain" prohibiting any new passengers from entering the ship.

The representative said that they would attend the liner in the Australian city upon its return.

Timeline of Occurrences

The vessel originally sailed from the coastal city on the 24th of October, and was merely two days into the journey at the time of the 80-year-old's death. Lizard Island was the initial destination on the itinerary.

Passengers on board - who typically pay large sums of money to join the voyage - were transported there for a daily excursion with the choice of trekking or snorkeling.

Next of Kin Statement

The offspring of the victim said that her family was "shocked and saddened that the liner left the location after an organised outing without my parent".

Via her announcement, she described her mum as an "energetic octogenarian" who was a member of a walking organization.

"From the little facts we have been told, it appears that there was a breakdown of responsibility and common sense," she mentioned.

She added that she wished the examination would be able to pinpoint what "the operator should have performed that might have protected Mum's existence".

"We understand from the authorities that it was a very hot day, and mum took sick on the hill climb," she stated.

"Officials suggested her to go back, without accompaniment. Then the vessel departed, seemingly without performing a roll call.

"During some point in that chain of events, or shortly after, mother died, without company."

Company Position

Through an announcement, the Chief Executive verified that the organization was "collaborating extensively with officials to support their investigation".

He stated that the company was "very regretful that this has transpired" and had extended its full support to the family.

Shipping Sector Practices

The ship serves up to 120 guests with 46 personnel, according to company details. It was purpose-built to enter distant regions of the Australian shoreline and is equipped with "small boats" - small boats used to transport individuals on land visits.

Occurrences such as this are rare, and liners have procedures to record which passengers are getting on or getting off, according to maritime specialists.

"Leaving covertly or [back] aboard really isn't an option," one expert stated.

Cruise lines consider these procedures very seriously and have "sophisticated systems in place to stop such occurrences from occurring," the specialist added.

"This seems to be most likely a surprising - and sad - one-off."