Cruise passenger died after care delay, report says

A cruise ship passenger died after "suboptimal" care for a spinal injury that he suffered in a fall during a violent storm, a report has said.

Trevor Gilks, 85, died four days after he was injured on Saga's Spirit of Discovery in November 2023.

The Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) questioned the medical treatment he was given on board as well as the captain's decision to cross the Bay of Biscay in very high waves.

Saga Cruises said it was sorry for the distress caused but said it disagreed with some of the MAIB report's conclusions.

More than 100 people were injured when the ship was battered by force 11 winds and lost propulsion off the north-west coast of Spain on 4 November.

Shortly after 13:30 GMT, Gilks arrived in the ship's main deck living room, pushing his wife in a wheelchair, the MAIB said.

At about 17:10, the ship "rolled violently", toppling his armchair backwards, causing him to hit his neck on the floor.

In severe pain, he was helped back into his chair by a nurse, the report said.

Four hours later, he was fitted with a neck collar and X-rayed, but the lack of a side X-ray hampered diagnosis, and he was not placed on a spinal board, it added.

Two days later, Gilks was found to be paralysed and a doctor suggested medical evacuation.

However, the captain decided to disembark him in Portsmouth that evening, given the risk of a helicopter transfer in high seas.

Seven other seriously injured passengers were also taken to hospital, the report added.

The MAIB concluded: "Delay in identifying that [Gilks] had suffered a severe spinal injury led to him receiving suboptimal treatment that may have affected the severity of his injury."

The report also found that the captain's decision to cross the Bay of Biscay in very high waves was "not effectively challenged by the crew and operational teams ashore" despite weather information providers "advising against the crossing".

The MAIB made a series of recommendations, including to propose that cruise ships are required to be fitted with electronic devices measuring their stability.

A spokesperson for Saga Cruises said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Gilks and all the guests and crew affected by this incident, and we are sorry for the distress they suffered.

"While we accept the MAIB's recommendations, we disagree with some of their conclusions and feel the synopsis does not accurately reflect the report.

"Safety is our number one priority and, whilst the weather is beyond our control, we always follow industry guidelines and best practice.

"Following the incident, we promptly took all necessary actions to enhance our policies and procedures, work recognised by the MAIB in this report."

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