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One two-month cruise around Australia has been cancelled following the tragic passing of an older woman who was left behind by the ship on a distant tropical isle.

The elderly woman had been hiking on the tropical location with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer, but parted ways from the group for a break. The ship left without her and came back later that day after the personnel realised the lady was not present.

An extensive hunt located her body the next day.

Authorities are examining the tragedy, alongside police and the state coroner.

Head of the cruise operator announced that travelers and staff on the ship were notified that the continuation of the journey had been terminated due to the "sad loss and prior mechanical issues".

Via official communication, he added that guests would be issued a total repayment, and said the organization was working "to organize the return journeys of the travelers via private aircraft".

Officials also issued an latest announcement, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Master" preventing any further travelers from getting on the vessel.

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

Chronology of Events

The vessel originally sailed from the Australian port on 24 October, and was just two days into the expedition at the moment of the elderly woman's passing. The remote island was the opening port on the journey.

Passengers on the ship - who generally pay large sums of dollars to join the cruise - were ferried there for a day trip with the option of walking or underwater exploration.

Family Statement

The daughter of the victim said that her family was "surprised and saddened that the ship left the location after an planned tour without my mum".

Through her comments, she portrayed her parent as an "vigorous 80-year-old" who was a participant of a bushwalking club.

"From the little information we have been informed, it seems that there was a breakdown of responsibility and common sense," she mentioned.

She continued that she wished the examination would be able to identify what "the organization should have done that might have saved Mother's being".

"According to reports from the authorities that it was a very hot day, and mother took sick on the uphill trek," she revealed.

"They requested her to go back, unescorted. Then the boat left, reportedly without conducting a headcount.

"During some point in that process, or not long after, mum died, without company."

Company Reaction

In a statement, the CEO affirmed that the operator was "cooperating fully with officials to aid their inquiry".

He stated that the firm was "deeply sorry that this has occurred" and had extended its full support to the family.

Cruise Industry Practices

The ship serves up to one hundred twenty travelers with nearly fifty personnel, according to company information. It was specifically designed to access isolated areas of the Australian coastline and is equipped with "auxiliary vessels" - compact vessels used to transport individuals on shore trips.

Incidents such as this are rare, and liners have procedures to record which passengers are embarking or disembarking, according to industry experts.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] on the ship simply isn't an choice," an authority commented.

Vessel operators regard these processes extremely carefully and have "sophisticated systems in place to prevent such events from occurring," the authority continued.

"This appears to be probably a shocking - and tragic - single occurrence."