Glacier accident for cruise ship

Fifty British tourists were involved in a terrifying glacier collapse on board the small cruise liner operated by the specialist holiday company Discover The World.

The vessel was sailing near a tall glacier in Svalbard when an ice chunk described as being as big as a house broke off and landed near the ship, causing a huge wave containing blocks of the shattered ice to sweep over the ship, lifting passengers from their feet and injuring them.

Sixteen passengers are bringing a case against the tour company, saying that the captain sailed too close to the glacier and put lives at risk. One passenger said that there were broken limbs and a fractured skull among the injuries and that it was lucky there had been a GP among the passengers who, although injured himself, was able to treat other people’s injuries.