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| Wife of cruise ship passenger killed by wave criticises vessel | Wife of cruise ship passenger killed by wave criticises vessel |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The widow of a cruise ship passenger who died when it was hit by a wave in the English Channel has criticised the vessel as "badly maintained". | The widow of a cruise ship passenger who died when it was hit by a wave in the English Channel has criticised the vessel as "badly maintained". |
| James Swinstead, 85, of Colchester, Essex, was killed when a huge wave crashed into British cruise ship Marco Polo during severe storms on Friday. | James Swinstead, 85, of Colchester, Essex, was killed when a huge wave crashed into British cruise ship Marco Polo during severe storms on Friday. |
| His widow Helen praised the crew but attacked the state of the ship. | |
| Cruise operator Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) said it did not want to comment on Mrs Swinstead's remarks. | Cruise operator Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) said it did not want to comment on Mrs Swinstead's remarks. |
| The 22,000-tonne vessel was heading for its home port of Tilbury in Essex at the end of a 42-night voyage when Mr Swinstead died. | The 22,000-tonne vessel was heading for its home port of Tilbury in Essex at the end of a 42-night voyage when Mr Swinstead died. |
| Water crashed through a window, injuring a number of the 735 passengers, who were mainly British. | Water crashed through a window, injuring a number of the 735 passengers, who were mainly British. |
| A passenger in her 70s was airlifted off the ship, while 14 people were treated for minor injuries. | A passenger in her 70s was airlifted off the ship, while 14 people were treated for minor injuries. |
| Speaking in Tilbury after the Marco Polo docked, Mrs Swinstead said: "I think it killed him almost instantly. | Speaking in Tilbury after the Marco Polo docked, Mrs Swinstead said: "I think it killed him almost instantly. |
| "The ship was badly maintained. Four windows blew. | "The ship was badly maintained. Four windows blew. |
| "I said to my husband, because my father used to make paint, that's going to leak because there was a rusty puddle on the window sill. | "I said to my husband, because my father used to make paint, that's going to leak because there was a rusty puddle on the window sill. |
| "I expect to hear from the Marco Polo. He was a lovely husband. | "I expect to hear from the Marco Polo. He was a lovely husband. |
| "The crew have been fantastic. I think the ship is improperly maintained. It had come from Madeira before we got on it in January and they had bad storms then. | "The crew have been fantastic. I think the ship is improperly maintained. It had come from Madeira before we got on it in January and they had bad storms then. |
| "There's so much paint on the outside you can't see the rust, they just slop some more on when they get to port. | "There's so much paint on the outside you can't see the rust, they just slop some more on when they get to port. |
| "It was quite dreadful. I was sitting next to him and this window came in and the sea with it." | "It was quite dreadful. I was sitting next to him and this window came in and the sea with it." |
| 'Thrown out of bed' | |
| Another passenger Linda Kogan said: "It was horrendous, I've never been in storms like it. The waves were coming up almost over the ship. | |
| "The ship was at an angle. Some people reported the drawers were falling apart and the wardrobe doors falling off. | |
| "A lady was actually thrown out of bed with the force. We weren't in the restaurant when the windows broke but I think it was really scary. | |
| "One lady said it was just like the films with the foamy water and being swept across the restaurant. | |
| "Some people were stunned but on the whole people were quite stoic. The crew were fantastic. Some of the crew were actually injured as well." | |
| The wave caused damage to the ship's Waldorf Restaurant. The vessel, which has been to the Amazon in South America and to the West Indies, arrived back at Tilbury late on Saturday night. | The wave caused damage to the ship's Waldorf Restaurant. The vessel, which has been to the Amazon in South America and to the West Indies, arrived back at Tilbury late on Saturday night. |
| Following the death of Mr Swinstead, CMV said: "Our thoughts are very much with these passengers and their families during this difficult time." | Following the death of Mr Swinstead, CMV said: "Our thoughts are very much with these passengers and their families during this difficult time." |
| Following repair work, the Marco Polo is due to set sail on Sunday evening from Tilbury on a 14-night cruise to Norway. | Following repair work, the Marco Polo is due to set sail on Sunday evening from Tilbury on a 14-night cruise to Norway. |