Unwell cruise ship passenger dropped into freezing sea

A British man and his wife captured an amazing moment as a cruise passenger was accidentally dropped into a freezing sea

Colin Prescott of Burscough and his wife we among horrified witnesses as an ill woman was dropped into icy waters off the coast of Norway

Mr Prescott and his wife Sheila were passengers onboard the Ocean Princess when an ill woman being taken off the ship by Norwegian emergency services crew was dropped on her stretcher into the freezing sea below

Mr Prescott said: “The vessels, which hadn't 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'd been told the sea was about minus three degrees 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 or so, and I really want to find out whether she's okay."

Cruise and Maritime Voyages, who were operating the cruise, confirmed the incident took place and said that although the woman was still in a serious condition in a Norwegian hospital, her health was improving after treatment.

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