A Cumbrian woman who fell into freezing seawater as she was being stretchered off a cruise ship has died.
Janet Richardson (73) fell into the sea as rescue teams were moving her from the Ocean Countess to a rescue boat. Reports said it took up to eight minutes to retrieve her from the water.
Richardson passed away on Thursday at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary.
Her husband George has called for a post mortem. He told the local press: “I don’t know at this stage if the accident contributed to her death. It is quite possible, but I would like a post mortem to determine exactly how Janet died.”
Chris Coates, marketing director of cruise operator Cruise and Maritime Voyages, said the firm’s directors and staff were “deeply shocked” by the news of Mrs Richardson’s death. He added: “All our thoughts and prayers are with the Richardson family.”
The couple were on an eight day cruise of Norway and the Northern Lights when the great grandmother began suffering from dizzy spells, low blood pressure and suspected internal bleeding.
A police investigation is being carried out into the botched rescue.