A massive wave crashed into a cruise ship in Antarctica, causing one fatality and injuring four others on board the ship, WRAL reported Friday.
Suzie Gooding was aboard the Viking Polaris and described her experience as the huge wave hit the ship, causing chaos and frightening other passengers, according to WRAL News. “We wondered if we hit an iceberg. And there are no icebergs out here, but that’s how it felt,” Gooding said, according to WRAL.
Big wave killed 1 and injured 3 passengers in Antarctic cruise@Maritime_Bullet
NewsDecember 2, 2022Cruise ship #VIKINGPOLARIS was hit by a large wave south of Cape Horn, Drake Passage, late Nov 29, while returning to #Ushuaia Argentine from Antarctic cruise. pic.twitter.com/DaXyCTtfuP
— ⚓️MarioDeFenza⚓️ (@MarioDeFenza) December 2, 2022
“Everything was fine until the rogue wave hit, and it was just sudden. Shocking,” Gooding said, speaking to WRAL by phone from on board the cruise ship. “We didn’t know if we should get our gear ready for abandoning ship.”
“We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies,” a Viking representative said in a statement regarding the reportedly deceased passenger.
“We will continue to offer our full support to the family in the hours and days ahead … Our focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew, and we are working directly with them to arrange return travel,” the travel company continued, according to WRAL. (RELATED: Cruise Ship Docked At Grand Turk Island Goes Up In Smoke)
The Viking Polaris ship was sailing south of Cape Horn in stormy conditions.
In full 👇https://t.co/hUH0VO3wFQ
— Euronews Travel (@euronewstravel) December 2, 2022
“A two-week journey of stunning views — cut short,” Viking concluded.
A Viking representative reportedly described the situation as “a rogue wave incident.” The National Ocean Service characterizes such waves as “large, unexpected, and dangerous.” They apparently resemble “walls of water.”
The vessel appeared to have sustained broken windows on at least one of its sides as a result of the wave’s intensity, as seen in photos shared to WRAL by Gooding.
Further information regarding the identities of those who were injured and the identity of the reported deceased has not yet been made public.