Grandma fighting for life after icy plunge
A grandmother had to be rescued from -3 degree waters after falling into the icy ocean from a rescue boat.
Janet Richardson, 73, was being moved from a cruise boat after falling ill, but was left fighting for her life when she slipped from the hands of paramedics into the freezing cold water.
Her husband, George, feared he had lost her as he saw her plunge into the water.
"I really thought I'd lost her," he said.
Mrs Richardson was being moved after the cruise ship's captain called for a rescue boat to take her to hospital when she suffered from internal bleeding.
But as paramedics began the process of transferring her onto the rescue boat, her stretcher slipped and she was stricken in the freezing cold water for eight minutes.
Shw was fighting for her life at a UK hospital as of last night.
Mr Richardson told the Daily Mail: "Janet had always wanted to go on a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords so she could see the Northern Lights.
"She hadn't been that well on the previous evening, but we went for dinner on the Monday night.
"Then during the night she was really dizzy, which the doctors said was probably due to her diabetes.
"At 5am she was examined by the ship's doctor, then taken to the ship's hospital where they put her on a drip and tried to treat her.
"Then at about 10.30am the captain decided she'd better be transferred to the shore. They were originally going to use a helicopter but then decided to use a boat instead.
"When they tried to move her on to the lifeboat the ship was still moving and they tried to keep the lifeboat close to the side. But then the rear of the lifeboat moved away from the main ship.
"Six men were holding the stretcher, but it went down and then Janet slipped into the sea. She was conscious throughout.
"I just saw the end of the stretcher go in. It was very traumatic to see her fall in. I thought I was going to lose her.
"I wasn't at all certain what was happening as she'd gone out of sight. Once they got her out they decided they'd better get her to the shore fast then come back for me.
"Everyone was shocked. They gave her mouth-to-mouth on the dockside and got her going again. Her temperature was very low from the water but they got it back up and put her under sedation.
"She didn't come round because of the sedation for about a week, when she finally opened her eyes a bit. Even now you're not sure if she's recognising you or not.
"She has a tracheotomy in her throat so she can't speak. They did various brain scans and heart scans which proved satisfactory.
"She made a bit of progress and then they decided to fly her home.
"They're doing all they can for her now in the Cumberland. The doctors have said she's got a kidney problem as well. We've no idea when she might get out of hospital."
