Medics drop grandmother into icy sea off Norway

A British tourist fell into the North Sea in subzero conditions as she was being carried on a stretcher off a cruise ship. Janet Richardson, 73, from Penrith in Cumbria, was on the Ocean Princess, which had left Hull at the end of March for a coastal tour of Norway including viewings of the northern lights. Her 78-year-old husband, George, was with her.

When she fell seriously ill, the ship's captain decided she should immediately be taken to hospital in Norway. However, while the rescue teams were moving her on a stretcher to a rescue boat, she fell into the sea – which was about -3C at the time. It then took almost eight minutes to retrieve her from the water.



She was eventually transported to hospital in Bodø, Norway, accompanied by her husband, who remained by her bedside for several days before she was airlifted to Cumberland infirmary in Carlisle, where she is receiving treatment. A spokesman for Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which operates the service, said: "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." The spokesman said 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.