Investigation into cruise ship death

George Richardson, whose wife Janet died four weeks after being dropped into the North Sea while being transferred from a cruise ship to a rescue vessel, is waiting for the results of a post mortem before deciding whether to take legal action.
Mrs Richardson, 73, spent several minutes in near-freezing water before being pulled to safety. She was rushed to a Norwegian hospital on Bodo, and later transferred to the Cumberland Infirmary at Carlisle, nearer her home in Ousby, Penrith.
The decision to evacuate her from the Ocean Countess, during a cruise to see the Northern Lights, was made after she was taken ill with internal bleeding.
Mr Richardson told his local newspaper, the News and Star: “She was diabetic so there were a lot of complications. I don’t know at this stage if the accident contributed to her death. It is quite possible, but I would like a post mortem to determine exactly how Janet died.”
Chris Coates, marketing director of cruise operator Cruise and Maritime Voyages, said the firm’s directors and staff were “deeply shocked” by the news of Mrs Richardson’s death. He added: “All our thoughts and prayers are with the Richardson family.”
Norwegian police, the country’s search and rescue service, and CMV are co-operating in an investigation of the incident.