A scheduled cruise was called off after an elderly woman was left stranded on a remote island and later found deceased. Suzanne Rees, 80, went missing during a visit to Lizard Island in Australia. The cruise, priced at £40,000 per ticket for a 60-day journey around Australia, made its first stop at Lizard Island where the incident occurred.

The decision to cancel the remaining voyage was announced to passengers on Wednesday due to the unfortunate passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues, according to Mark Fifield, the CEO of Coral Expeditions. Suzanne Rees, who was traveling alone, became separated from her group during a hike after falling ill. Despite being instructed to return to the ship on her own, the vessel departed without her.

It was only at 6 pm on Saturday, approximately five hours after being left on the island, that Suzanne Rees was reported missing when she did not show up for dinner. Her body was discovered around 2 am on Sunday, 50 meters off a hiking trail on Lizard Island.

An investigation involving multiple agencies will look into the circumstances surrounding Suzanne Rees’ abandonment on the island, including allegations that a passenger count was not conducted before the ship left. The family of Ms. Rees criticized Coral Expeditions for what they described as a lack of care and judgment.

The CEO confirmed the cancellation of the voyage and assured passengers of full refunds, with arrangements being made for their return via chartered flights. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority issued a notice preventing new travelers from boarding the Coral Adventurer until further notice.

Authorities are treating the death as sudden and non-suspicious, with police and tourism officials extending condolences to the family of the deceased. Coral Expeditions expressed regret over the incident and pledged full support to the family during the investigation process. They are cooperating with law enforcement and refrained from commenting further until the investigation is concluded.