Injured Iceberg Victims Win Law Suit
The MV Alexy Maryshev Glacier Incident
By Mike Groves
Sixteen passengers who only recently secured their right to take legal action against the tour operator, Discover the World after they were injured when their vessel sailed too close to an iceberg, have won their battle for justice! The tour operator finally relented and took responsibility for their pain and suffering, the vast majority of injuries being caused when a massive wave swept across the deck of the MV Alexey Maryshev ship in Norway.
Lawyers Irwin Mitchell, who represent 12 of the 16 victims have welcomed the change of heart and which comes three years after the incident in August 2007. The victims, including a doctor, a bank director and the chairman of a law firm were not prepared to accept the tour operators stance that it 'had nothing to do with them,' spearheading a High Court battle with the British cruise operator after their luxury liner was hit by a glacier.
Mr Justice Blair heard that claims from most of the passengers who suffered relatively minor injuries, would amount to less than $81,000 each. Other plaintiffs were seeking substantially larger claims for critical injuries and loss of earnings.
The MV Alexy Maryshev was on a ten-day sightseeing cruise in the Arctic around the Norwegian island of Spitzbergen when an iceberg broke from the Hornbreen glacier creating massive shockwave's and littering the deck with slabs of ice. The plaintiffs claimed the ship's captain took the ship far too close to the glacier and thus placed them in harms way.
The ship, which was carrying 72 passengers had stopped near the glacier so passengers could take photographs when the ice and waves struck, London's High Court heard during an earlier hearing. Discover the World, which sold the passengers the $4,100 cruise packages had denied all liability for the incident but finally relented.
Many on board the MV Alexy Maryshev described how large chunks of ice broke away from the glacier and fell into the sea, causing a large tsunami to hit the ship. Some accounts described a 70ft wall of ice and water engulfing the vessel, causing the ship to list violently, throwing the passengers across the deck like rag dolls and seriously injuring sixteen people. A number of passengers were so seriously hurt that they had to be airlifted from the ship by helicopter for emergency treatment.
Injured Iceberg Victims Win Law Suit
MV Alexy Maryshev Glacier Incident of 2007
By Mike Groves QGM
Cruise Bruise Security And Safety Advisor
November 13, 2010
More seriously injured passengers are prepared for evacuation. Picture Reuters
One British guest, David Michael Bishop suffered multiple fractures and lung injuries while another couple may only have escaped certain death by a small small metal grill fixed to the deck of the vessel. Another guest and his wife, Julian Benington, a Conservative councilor for Biggin Hill in England told reporters at the time that he was convinced he and wife Valerie were going to be killed.
I think the best way to highlight how truly terrifying this incident really was is to read Cllr Benington personal account. 'The ship got very close to the ice wall, we came to within 10ft of it. My wife Valerie was walking a few feet in front of me when a huge section of the 100ft high glacier came down. If it had come down over the boat, God knows what would have happened. As it was, it fell vertically in the water’
"As it did so, this huge wave came up and swamped the boat with water and ice lumps, some of which were pretty big. "The boat then keeled over dramatically, probably several times. We were three decks up, about 35ft above sea level.
"I hung on to a railing and then all hell let loose. I am hanging on and there is ice and water raining down on everybody.
"My wife was being washed down past me. Fortunately I managed to grab her and I am holding on to her, and bear in mind the boat is probably tilting at 45 degrees and probably more than that.
"Then a man who was in front of her came washing down too. I tried to grab him too, but it was so cold and I couldn't hold him.
"He went right across the deck to the other side and hit the sturdy cleats and stanchions."
Medi-vac's continue as more passengers are attended to
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