Viking Ship Replica Capsizes Off Norway, U.S. Woman Dies in Tragic Accident

A tragic incident occurred earlier this week off the coast of Norway when a strong wave caused the capsizing of a Viking ship replica, resulting in the death of a U.S. citizen. Police have described the incident as a "tragic accident" and stated that it does not constitute a criminal matter.

Viking ship replica sinks off Norway

The wooden replica, named Naddodd, was making a transatlantic voyage from the Faeroe Islands to Norway with an international team of six people on board. The 33-foot dual-masted vessel, constructed on the Faeroes, had departed the islands on Saturday. The ship sailed into tumultuous weather conditions on Tuesday, facing strong winds and high waves, ultimately capsizing off the coastal town of Stad, approximately 215 miles from Oslo, late that night.

In a photo released by the Norwegian Armed Forces/Coast Guard, the Viking ship replica Naddodd can be seen where it was found on August 28 after capsizing the previous day off the coast of Norway. Survivors reported to the police that the weather had deteriorated significantly worse than predicted, with waves reaching heights of up to 16 feet at the time of the incident. The Sea Rescue Society of Norway documented the challenging conditions faced by their boats during the search for the capsized vessel.

Survivors and Victim

The five survivors were able to find refuge in an inflatable life raft and were subsequently airlifted to safety by helicopter. Unfortunately, a sixth individual, who was trapped beneath the vessel, drowned, and their body was discovered the following day. Although the victim's name has not been officially released by the police, she has been identified as 29-year-old archaeologist Karla Dana from Florida by Norwegian and Faeroese media.

Before the ill-fated trip, Dana had expressed her excitement about being part of the crew and embarking on the Nordic voyage on a Viking ship replica across the North Sea, pushing through physical and mental limits to make history. Sail2North Expeditions, the organizing company for the trip, plans to release further information about the incident in the coming days. On social media, Sail2North described Dana as "the youngest member of our crew, embodying the curiosity of a field researcher and the boldness of an adventurer."