Woman Dies After Botched Sea Rescue

Janet Richardson, 73, spent nearly eight minutes in frigid waters
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 24, 2011 8:18 AM CDT

Janet Richardson left England for Norway last month, intending to see the Northern Lights with her husband. But little more than a week into the cruise, the 73-year-old, who suffered from diabetes, fell ill on the ship and began to suffer from internal bleeding. A botched rescue led to the British grandmother being dropped into the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean, in which she spent nearly eight minutes, the Telegraph reports. Richardson died Thursday, her family confirmed yesterday.

The Ocean Countess cruise ship and the rescue vessel drifted apart as Richardson was being transferred, causing rescuers to lose their grip on the stretcher and drop Richardson. Her husband of 30 years says he will not take “any action against anybody” and wants to move forward. (More cruise ships stories.)

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