Australian Cruise Cancelled After 80-Year-Old Woman Who ‘Failed to Board’ Was Found Dead on Remote Pacific Island

The remainder of an Australian cruise has been cancelled aft nan decease of an 80-year-old passenger.

Suzanne Rees was recovered dormant connected Lizard Island successful nan Great Barrier Reef, disconnected Queensland, connected Sunday, Oct. 26, having been reported missing conscionable earlier midnight nan time before. She had been hiking nan Cook’s Look highest connected nan distant land erstwhile she allegedly stopped to remainder and became separated from nan group, nan Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

The Coral Adventurer vessel near without her erstwhile she “failed to board." It is believed that Rees whitethorn person died aft falling down a cliff, according to news.com.au.

Nearly a week aft nan incident, nan CEO of Coral Expeditions, Mark Fifield, confirmed that nan remainder of nan voyage would beryllium cancelled.

He told nan BBC that passengers and unit aboard nan vessel were told connected Wednesday, Oct. 29, that nan remainder of their cruise would not spell ahead.

"Following nan tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and erstwhile mechanical issues, nan determination had been made to cancel nan remainder of nan voyage," said Fifield, per nan BBC.

He said passengers were told they would person a afloat refund and that Coral Expeditions would coordinate their return flights.

Fifield besides shared successful an Oct. 30 connection that nan institution has offered “heartfelt condolences to nan Rees family and stay profoundly sorry that this has occurred.”

“The circumstances of her tragic decease are nan taxable of charismatic investigations. We are afloat cooperating pinch those investigations to find nan facts,” nan CEO continued, per news.com.au. “For this reason, it would beryllium inappropriate to remark further connected nan investigations while they are underway. We proceed to supply our afloat support to nan Rees family done this difficult time.”

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Rees’ girl Katherine expressed being "shocked and saddened” that nan vessel departed “without my mum," according to nan BBC. “From nan small we person been told, it seems that location was a nonaccomplishment of attraction and communal sense,” she added. 

Katherine went connected to declare that, aft her mom “fell ill” while climbing Cook's Look connected a basking day, “she was asked to caput down, unescorted.” She continued, “Then nan vessel left, apparently without doing a rider count.”