Viking ship capsized off Norway due to waves
Published: Friday, Aug 30th 2024, 07:50
العودة إلى البث المباشر
The capsizing of a replica Viking ship off the coast of Norway claimed one life last Tuesday. The police now believe it was an accident. A large wave capsized the boat with the six adventurers, including four Swiss nationals.
Based on interviews with the five survivors, the Western Police District came to the conclusion that it was a "tragic accident" and that no one could be held criminally responsible for the death of the person involved.
After initial investigations, it was therefore decided not to initiate any further inquiries and to close the case from the police side, according to a statement.
A team of six adventurers led by Swiss skipper and expedition leader Andy Fitze set sail south of the Faroe Islands at the weekend to sail and row the replica Viking boat "Naddoddur" all the way to Norway.
Waves up to five meters high
The open and motorless boat then capsized off the coast of western Norway on Tuesday in stormy seas with waves up to five meters high. A young woman from the team, who lived in the USA, lost her life. The five other crew members - four Swiss and one Faroese - were rescued by emergency services.
According to the police, the survivors reported strongly changing weather conditions at sea. The weather had suddenly become much worse than forecast. The crew had taken down the mainsail and hoisted a smaller one when the boat was capsized by a large wave from behind. All six crew members ended up in the water and the woman was stuck. The others were able to free her, but were unable to resuscitate her.
As footage from NRK and the Faroese radio station KVF showed, the almost ten-metre-long wooden ship has since been towed by a coastguard vessel to the port of Måløy, around 170 kilometers north of Bergen, where it was brought ashore. According to KVF, a memorial service was held on a jetty in the Faroese town of Tvøroyri, where the boat had started its journey.
©كيستون/إسدا
Arabic 
English 
German 
French 
Spanish