Janet Richardson, 73, British tourist taken ill on Arctic cruise ship is dropped into icy seas during botched transfer to rescue boat - 20th Apr 2011

A British pensioner was fighting for her life in hospital after she was dramatically dropped into sub-zero sea waters during a bungled rescue attempt from a cruise ship.

Janet Richardson, 73, from Cumbria, was returning from the Northern Lights with her husband George, 78, when she was taken ill with internal bleeding on board the Ocean Countess.

The ship’s captain was so concerned about her condition that he decided she needed urgent medical treatment and would have to be taken to a hospital immediately.

He radioed the authorities on the Norwegian mainland and they launched a rescue operation.

Within minutes a lifeboat had pulled up alongside the Ocean Countess and Mrs Richardson was placed on a stretcher.

But as she was passed from the Ocean Countess to the waiting lifeboat the two boats moved apart from one another and Mrs Richardson was suddenly dropped into the icy sea – which was as cold as -3C (27F).

They then took an astonishing four minutes to pull her to safety. The horrifying events were captured on film by a horrified passenger on the icy deck above. His extraordinary pictures show Mrs Richardson struggling to stay afloat in the freezing water. Read More