Gran Dropped Into Ocean 'Not Recovering' - Sky News

6:40pm UK, Thursday April 21, 2011

The husband of a grandmother left fighting for her life after she plunged overboard in the Arctic Ocean says her condition is not improving.

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Janet Richardson, 73, was taken ill during the voyage.

As she was being transferred from her cruise ship to another boat, so she could be taken to hospital, her stretcher slipped from the grasp of paramedics.

She tumbled into the -3C sea off the coast of Norway and was stuck in the water for four minutes - kept afloat by her life jacket - before being plucked from the freezing waves.

Mrs Richardson, who was being transferred to the smaller vessel because of growing concerns about an illness during her holiday, was eventually taken to hospital in the Norwegian town of Bodo.

Janet and George Richardson. Pic: Patrick Hill News & Pictures

Mrs Richardson, from Penrith, Cumbria, is now in intensive care at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary after being airlifted to the UK.

She is being treated both for her original illness, which involved internal bleeding, and complications caused by her Arctic Ocean plunge.

She had joined husband George, 78, on board Ocean Countess, which had left Hull at the end of March for a coastal tour of Norway including viewings of the Northern Lights.

The victim on a stretcher. Photo: Patrick Hill News & Pictures / Colin Prescott

He told Sky's Frazer Maude: "She's not getting any better. She's not improving.

"I've got two of my stepdaughters with me at the moment and we're all very worried."

Maude said doctors were finding it difficult to assess how much of her poor condition was due to her underlying health problems and how much was a result of her traumatic experience off the coast of Norway.

A spokesman for the rescuers, who have apologised for the mistake, said they have been "very affected" by the incident.

Police have launched an investigation.

The rescue boat. Photo: Patrick Hill News & Pictures / Colin Prescott

The cruise operators were Cruise and Maritime Voyages.

The firm's marketing director Chris Coates said: "Our heartfelt sympathies are with Mrs Richardson and her family after what must have been a traumatic experience.

"We have been in regular contact with the Richardson family throughout her recovery and we are encouraged to hear that Mrs Richardson is now back in the UK and we wish her a speedy recovery.

"We would like to reassure all of our passengers that health and safety is of paramount importance to Cruise and Maritime Voyages.

"And we will of course be co-operating fully with the investigation, which is still ongoing."