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One two-month voyage circling the Land Down Under has been cancelled following the death of an older woman who was stranded by the vessel on a remote island.

The elderly woman had been walking on Lizard Island with fellow passengers from the cruise ship, but broke off from the party for a break. The liner sailed away leaving her and went back later that day after the personnel discovered the lady was missing.

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

Authorities are examining the incident, alongside investigators and the official investigator.

The CEO of the cruise operator said that guests and personnel on the ship were notified that the remainder of the journey had been called off due to the "sad loss and previous mechanical issues".

Through an announcement, he added that passengers would be given a total repayment, and said the company was working "to coordinate the homeward trips of the passengers via specially arranged planes".

Authorities also released an latest communication, and said they had "provided a notice to the Captain" banning any further travelers from getting on the ship.

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

Chronology of Events

The ship first departed Cairns on 24 October, and was merely two days into the voyage at the time of the 80-year-old's demise. The remote island was the initial destination on the voyage.

Passengers on the vessel - who typically pay large sums of currency to participate in the expedition - were ferried there for a day trip with the option of walking or underwater exploration.

Next of Kin Reaction

The offspring of the elderly passenger said that her loved ones was "surprised and distressed that the vessel left the island after an scheduled outing without my mother".

Via her announcement, she portrayed her mother as an "vigorous octogenarian" who was a member of a hiking organization.

"According to scant information we have been informed, it looks that there was a failure of responsibility and common sense," she mentioned.

She continued that she desired the examination would be able to pinpoint what "the company should have undertaken that might have protected Mother's being".

"We understand from the police that it was a extremely warm period, and mum fell ill on the mountain ascent," she explained.

"She was asked her to head down, unescorted. Then the vessel left, reportedly without performing a headcount.

"At some stage in that process, or not long after, she passed away, without company."

Operator Reaction

In a statement, the Head verified that the company was "collaborating extensively with officials to support their examination".

He stated that the organization was "very regretful that this has happened" and had offered its complete assistance to the relatives.

Maritime Business Procedures

The ship serves up to one hundred twenty passengers with 46 staff, according to corporate details. It was purpose-built to reach remote areas of the Australian coastline and is outfitted with "auxiliary vessels" - compact vessels used to transport travelers on shore trips.

Events like this are infrequent, and passenger vessels have systems to record which individuals are getting on or getting off, according to industry experts.

"Leaving covertly or [back] aboard simply isn't an choice," a specialist stated.

Cruise lines take these procedures very seriously and have "clever tech in place to stop such events from happening," the specialist added.

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