Cruise circling Australia canceled after death of 80-year-old woman left behind on island

A cruise planning to sail around Australia is now canceled following the death of an 80-year-old woman left behind by mistake on a small island.

Mark Fifield, CEO of Coral Expeditions, said that on Wednesday the cruise operator “notified passengers and crew onboard the Coral Adventurer vessel that, following the tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues, the decision had been made to cancel the remainder of the voyage,” according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Mr. Fifield also said passengers would receive full refunds and that the cruise company is arranging chartered flights to get them home. He did not specify in his statement the nature of the mechanical issues.

The Coral Adventurer stopped at Lizard Island off the northeastern coast of Australia on Oct. 25, a couple of days into its voyage. Ms. Rees got off and went on a hike with other passengers, but fell ill.

The boat left her behind and doubled back to the island after the crew realized she was missing, but she died in the interim, possibly from falling off a cliff.

Her body was found Sunday.

The victim’s daughter, Katherine Rees, told The Associated Press, “From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense. We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mum felt ill on the hill climb. She was asked to head down, unescorted. Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mum died, alone.”

The boat was originally going to sail on to Darwin in northern Australia, but is instead returning to its port of origin, Cairns, in the northeast.

Officials from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority are meeting the boat upon its return.