A tragic event has occurred off the coast of Norway, where a fierce wave caused the capsizing of a replica Viking ship, leading to the death of an American archaeologist, as confirmed by local police on Thursday.
While authorities have not publicly named the victim, reports from Norwegian and Faeroe Islands media outlets identify her as 29-year-old Karla Dana from Florida.
The incident took place during a sailing project known as the “Legendary Viking Voyage.” The wooden vessel, named Naddodd, was a 33-foot double-masted replica crafted in the Faroe Islands. The crew had set out from the Faroe Islands, strategically positioned between Scotland and Iceland, with plans to sail to Trondheim in Norway.
Tragedy struck on Tuesday evening near the Norwegian town of Stad, approximately 215 miles from Oslo. The Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) reported that the ship issued its first distress signal around 5:45 PM local time. However, shortly after a rescue team arrived—only to find the crew declaring themselves safe—the situation took a dire turn.
At about 8:00 PM, the ship sent another distress call. Local civilian boats quickly arrived and discovered that the vessel had capsized, with five crew members found on an inflatable life raft. They were airlifted to safety by helicopter.
Rescue teams continued their search through the night for the missing crew member. After weather conditions improved, a body was discovered on Wednesday morning. Police confirmed that the surviving crew comprised one Faroese and four Swiss nationals.
Witnesses reported that weather conditions changed dramatically, with waves reaching as high as 16 feet, contributing to the ship’s inability to cope, ultimately leading to its capsizing.
Karla Dana had shared her enthusiasm for the adventure on her LinkedIn page, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to “fearlessly embark on this Nordic voyage on a Viking ship replica across the North Sea.”
Authorities have stated that this incident is being treated as an accident, caused by the powerful wave, and does not warrant a criminal investigation.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.