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A two-month cruise around Australia has been cancelled days after the tragic passing of an older female passenger who was abandoned by the vessel on a distant coastal location.

The passenger had been walking on the tropical location with other travelers from the vessel, but separated from the group for a rest. The ship departed without her and went back later that day after the crew realised the lady was missing.

A large-scale hunt located her person the following day.

Authorities are examining the tragedy, together with police and the medical examiner.

The CEO of the cruise operator said that guests and crew on the vessel were notified that the remainder of the journey had been called off due to the "tragic passing and previous engine troubles".

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

Authorities also issued an latest announcement, and said they had "delivered a order to the Master" prohibiting any new passengers from getting on the vessel.

The spokesperson said that they would attend the liner in the port city upon its coming back.

Sequence of Events

The vessel originally sailed from the Australian port on 24 October, and was only 48 hours into the journey at the moment of the elderly woman's passing. The remote island was the initial destination on the journey.

Passengers on board - who usually pay substantial amounts of dollars to join the voyage - were ferried there for a day trip with the option of walking or snorkeling.

Family Reaction

The offspring of the victim said that her loved ones was "shocked and saddened that the ship left the island after an organised outing without my mother".

In her statement, she portrayed her mum as an "vigorous octogenarian" who was a affiliate of a walking group.

"According to scant information we have been informed, it seems that there was a lapse of care and ordinary reasoning," she said.

She added that she hoped the inquiry would be able to identify what "the company should have performed that might have saved Her existence".

"According to reports from the authorities that it was a extremely warm day, and mum became unwell on the mountain ascent," she stated.

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

"During some point in that process, or soon after, mum died, alone."

Company Position

Through an announcement, the CEO verified that the operator was "working closely with officials to aid their inquiry".

He stated that the firm was "extremely apologetic that this has occurred" and had provided its total backing to the loved ones.

Cruise Industry Procedures

The vessel accommodates up to 120 travelers with forty-six staff, according to company details. It was purpose-built to reach distant areas of the Australian coastline and is equipped with "tenders" - minor craft used to ferry passengers on day excursions.

Events such as this are uncommon, and cruise ships have procedures to track which passengers are boarding or getting off, according to industry experts.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] on the ship just isn't an choice," a specialist commented.

Vessel operators regard these procedures very seriously and have "clever tech in place to prevent such events from taking place," the expert continued.

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