An ill passenger fell into the North Sea in subzero conditions as she was being carried on a stretcher off a cruise ship.
While rescue teams were moving her from the ship Ocean Countess to a rescue boat, she fell into the sea. It then took almost eight minutes to retrieve her from the water, according to reports today.
Janet Richardson (73), who was wearing a lifebelt, was eventually transported to hospital in Bodø, Norway, accompanied by her 78 year old husband, who remained by her bedside for several days before she was airlifted to Cumberland infirmary in Carlisle.
They were both on a cruise which left Hull at the end of March to view the northern lights in Norway.
Fellow passenger Colin Prescott reportedly said: “The vessels, which had not been latched together, suddenly moved apart by several feet just as they were transferring her, which caused the rescue crews to drop the stretcher into the sea.
“We had been told the sea was about minus three that day. The rescue boat came back round to pick her up and she was taken to hospital, but she was in the water for about eight minutes.”
A spokesman for Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which operates the ship, was quoted as saying: “The lady was very seriously ill and the captain and the ship’s doctor decided that she needed to disembark as a matter of emergency because the ship was not due to dock at its next calling point until the following day.
“Under these circumstances a rescue was launched and, although the ship is equipped with a helipad, the Norwegian rescue crews decided to launch a sea rescue. Unfortunately, during this rescue the lady did fall into the sea, but she was then taken to hospital and treated.
“Although we do not own this ship, we have been in contact with the ship’s owners and the Norwegian rescue authorities and a full investigation is taking place.”
The spokesman told The Guardian that the company took the safety and comfort of its passengers very seriously and although the logistics of the rescue were in the hands of the Norwegian rescue team, Cruise & Maritime Voyages would assist the investigation.