OSLO: One woman died and five other people were rescued after a replica of a Viking ship capsized off Norway’s west coast overnight, authorities said on Wednesday.

Police said a woman was found dead in the water near the sunken ship, but did not provide any information about her identity or nationality. Norwegian media said she was an American citizen in her 20s.

“Five people have been picked up and are safe and sound,” emergency services wrote on X. Helicopters, rescue boats and several nearby ships battled high waves and strong winds overnight in the rescue operation.

The 10-metre (30-foot) open Viking ship, powered only with sails and oars, had sent a mayday call earlier in the evening, but when boats and a helicopter arrived at the scene the call was deemed to have been a false alarm, the Verdens Gang (VG) daily said.

An hour later it sent another mayday call, and this time a large rescue operation was launched. The five rescued were winched up by helicopter from a life raft. The tragedy happened about 100 kilometres off of Norway’s west coast.

According to VG, the wooden ship was on its way from the Faroe Islands to Alesund in Norway when the accident happened. VG said those on board were adventurers from the Faroe Islands, Switzerland and the US attempting a voyage similar to one the Vikings would have done more than 1,000 years ago.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2024