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An extensive extended cruise around Australia has been cancelled following the tragic passing of an elderly lady who was left behind by the cruise liner on a remote coastal location.

The elderly woman had been walking on the remote island with shipmates from the vessel, but separated from the group for a pause. The ship left without her and returned several hours later after the personnel became aware the lady was unaccounted for.

A large-scale hunt found her body the next day.

Investigative bodies are investigating the event, in coordination with investigators and the medical examiner.

Head of the cruise operator stated that travelers and crew on the ship were told 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 travelers would be provided a total repayment, and said the company was working "to organize the travel back of the passengers via chartered flights".

Regulatory bodies also issued an revised announcement, and said they had "delivered a notice to the Master" preventing any new passengers from boarding the ship.

The representative said that they would inspect the vessel in Cairns upon its return.

Chronology of Incidents

The vessel first departed the Australian port on 24 October, and was only 48 hours into the voyage at the moment of the senior passenger's passing. Lizard Island was the opening port on the voyage.

Passengers on board - who usually pay substantial amounts of currency to take part in the expedition - were transported there for a shore visit with the possibility of hiking or snorkeling.

Family Response

The child of the victim said that her relatives was "surprised and grieved that the liner left the island after an planned tour without my parent".

In her statement, she described her mother as an "active 80-year-old" who was a member of a walking organization.

"According to scant details we have been told, it appears that there was a lapse of responsibility and common sense," she mentioned.

She continued that she hoped the inquiry would be able to identify what "the company should have undertaken that might have preserved Mum's being".

"We understand from the authorities that it was a exceptionally warm period, and she took sick on the hill climb," she revealed.

"Officials suggested her to return, unescorted. Then the vessel left, seemingly without performing a headcount.

"At some stage in that sequence, or not long after, mum succumbed, alone."

Organization Reaction

In a statement, the CEO verified that the operator was "working closely with investigators to support their investigation".

He said that the firm was "extremely apologetic that this has happened" and had offered its full support to the family.

Shipping Sector Procedures

The ship accommodates up to 120 guests with forty-six personnel, according to company data. It was specifically designed to access remote locations of Australia's coastline and is equipped with "tenders" - minor craft used to transport travelers on land visits.

Occurrences such as this are rare, and cruise ships have procedures to document which passengers are embarking or getting off, according to industry experts.

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

Cruise lines regard these procedures extremely carefully and have "advanced technology in place to prevent such events from occurring," the authority added.

"This is presumably a stunning - and tragic - one-off."