100 guests injured on Spirit of Discovery after cruise ship caught in storm in Bay of Biscay
AROUND 100 guests have been injured on the Spirit of Discovery after the cruise ship was caught in a storm in the Bay of Biscay.
The Saga Cruises ship had to return to the UK after the bad weather triggered its safety system - making it suddenly veer to the left and halt.
The terrifying experience unfolded when stormy weather hit the Saga ship in the Bay of Biscay off the French coast on Saturday.
It has now returned to Britain - after cancelling the cruise early - with some passengers going straight to hospital.
Spirit of Discovery was on a 14-night Canary Island Quintet cruise, which departed on 24 October.
However, after 10 days of smooth sailing, the crew decided to cancel its final call to Las Palmas and continue to La Coruna in northern Spain to get ahead of the approaching storm.
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On its way to La Coruna it emerged the port was closed, so the ship headed to the UK earlier than planned.
While in the Bay of Biscay, which can have choppy waters, the ship's propulsion safety system activated at 12.30pm and turned the ship.
Saga said that around 100 of the 1,000 guests on board were injured by the bump.
Five guests were treated for more serious injuries by medics on board.
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Passengers then spent around 18 hours waiting for the storm and gales to pass after a decision was taken by the Master to hold the position in the Bay of Biscay.
The ship docked in Portsmouth yesterday, with a handful of the injured passengers due to go to hospital.
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A 58-year-old female passenger, who does not want to be named, was on board with her husband and parents and said the ordeal was "horrendous".
Speaking of the incident when the ship turned to the side, she said: "You could hear plates crashing and then there was an announcement from the captain who screamed over the tannoy system as the ship veered.
"The panic in his voice made everyone else panic. People were told to sit down.
"The ship was all over the place. It was absolute pandemonium. Things were flying everywhere.
"People were being thrown all over the place. The medics were overrun.
"My mum saw someone being resuscitated, there were broken bones, people on stretchers and people crying including the crew, who were running around frantically trying to help everyone. It was petrifying.
"People were sleeping with life jackets on and writing messages home to loved ones in case we didn't get back. We're happy to be alive."
After arriving back at the port, the passenger said someone was airlifted off the ship while another left in a neck brace.
She said that reports on board suggested there were more than 100 people injured. She also praised the crew for their "great" efforts.
Peter Sawyer, 76, of Christchurch, Dorset, described the situation as "terrifying".
He said: "People were getting thrown out of their chairs. It was an absolute mess in the dining room and the cabins with furniture everywhere.
"We couldn't believe how high we were being thrown when the 54ft waves were hitting. People were being picked up off the floor.
"A lot of people were elderly and with mobility issues and were in single cabins.
"Many went downstairs so they were not on their own. The staff were brilliant in dealing with everything."
He also questioned the decision to head into the Bay of Biscay - with him saying a weather app had warned of 11.4 metre waves and strong gales a few days earlier.
He said: "We could have stayed in Gran Canaria a couple more days. Storms can be predicted. We should have made for shelter even if we were late back to port in Portsmouth."
Another passenger said they were put in a "dangerous situation" by heading for the UK when forecasts showed stormy weather.
"The ship was not moving for 18 hours so it took a battering from the waves and wind," she said.
"We were the only cruise ship in the Bay of Biscay. Others had taken refuge."
A letter from Saga Cruises CEO Nigel Blanks to customers said: "I appreciate it was an extremely frightening time but I wanted to reassure you that the ship remained safe."
He added that they would receive details about compensation in coming days following the "disappointing end to your cruise".
Saga Cruises said: "Spirit of Discovery was sadly caught in the challenging weather conditions this weekend, as she started her return to the UK.
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"The ship remained safe at all times, but due to the impact of the storm some guests sustained injuries.
"All were treated immediately by onboard medical staff. While the weather is clearly beyond our control, we want to offer our sincere apologies to all those affected who are now safely back, having sailed home in calmer seas."