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Cruise passenger killed, two injured in excursion
A passenger from a cruise ship carrying five British passengers died and two others were injured when they were thrown into the sea from a rubber inflatable boat during an excursion in the Arctic.
The woman, an American in her 60s, was taking part in an excursion from the 100-passenger Sea Spirit, operated by Quark Expeditions, when the incident happened on Monday, said the Mirror.
The 12 passengers were flung out of a Zodiac vessel into the icy water when it was hit by a wave near the 14th of July Glacier just outside the settlement of Longyearbyen in Svalbard.
Emergency crews were told a woman had been injured and was being examined by the cruise ship’s doctor. A rescue helicopter with a doctor on board was dispatched from the island of Spitsbergen, but the woman died before it reached the ship.
Two other passengers who suffered minor injuries received medical treatment in Longyearbyen, according to a statement from Quark Expeditions.
The all-suite ship, which carries 120 passengers and 64 crew, is currently in Ny Alesund. It has undergone investigation by the local authorities and has been cleared to continue with its expedition.
Sea Spirit left Longyearbyen on Friday for an 11-day Spitsbergen Explorer cruise.
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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