Councillor wins compensation after cruise ship hit by Arctic glacier
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010A councillor has won compensation after an Arctic glacier hit a cruise ship he was holidaying on.
UK tour operator Discover The World admitted liability for the suffering caused to 16 of the passengers on the cruise ship which was hit by a glacier in Svalbard, an Arctic territory of Norway, in August 2007.
Large chunks of ice broke away from the glacier and fell into the sea, creating a large wave which crashed onto the deck. The boat lifted and tilted, causing passengers to be thrown across the deck, some of whom were left with serious personal injuries.
Bromley Councillor Julian Benington and his wife were among the 16 passengers who sued the travel firm, alleging that the captain should not have steered so close to the glacier.
Father-of-three Cllr Benington, who represents the Biggin Hill Ward in Bromley, says he and his wife were left with cuts and bruises following the incident.
Phillip Banks, the injury lawyer who is representing 12 of the passengers, said that the couple were delighted that Discover The World have admitted responsibility for the accident, and said that he hoped to work with the travel company to ensure all the injured passengers are properly compensated.
Mr Benington, said that it had been a case of ‘grabbing something and hanging on for dear life’ as the wave hit.
“My wife lost her grip and started to slide across the deck, but I managed to grab hold of her as she went past. She could have slid into the water, which was so cold she would have died.”
