Cruise Passenger Dies After Spinal Injury During Violent Bay Of Biscay Storm, Investigation Finds Care Delay

An 85-year-old cruise passenger died after suffering a serious spinal injury during violent weather aboard the cruise ship Spirit of Discovery, according to a report by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

The accident occurred on 4 November 2023 when the vessel encountered force 11 winds in the Bay of Biscay, causing the ship to roll heavily and leaving more than 100 passengers injured.

Investigators later found that the seriousness of the passenger’s injury was not immediately recognised, which led to medical treatment that may not have been appropriate for a suspected spinal injury.

The Saga Cruises vessel Spirit of Discovery was sailing off the north-west coast of Spain while crossing the Bay of Biscay when it ran into extremely rough weather. The ship was hit by force 11 winds, producing powerful waves that caused severe rolling.

During the storm, the ship’s propellers began to overspeed, causing an automatic shutdown of the propulsion system. The vessel temporarily lost propulsion while it was still facing heavy seas.

The violent movement of the ship caused injuries to more than 100 passengers, making the event one of the most serious weather-related injury incidents recorded on a cruise ship in recent years.

According to the investigation, Trevor Gilks, 85, was sitting in the main deck living room shortly after 13:30 GMT while pushing his wife in a wheelchair earlier in the afternoon. At around 17:10, the ship rolled sharply during the storm.

Gilks was seated in a high-backed armchair when the sudden movement caused the chair to topple backwards. He fell and struck his neck on the floor.

After the fall, he complained of severe pain. A nurse helped him back into the chair, and he was later taken to the ship’s medical centre for examination.

The MAIB investigation identified several problems with the medical response that followed. About four hours after the fall, Gilks was fitted with a neck collar, and X-rays of his neck were taken.

The images were sent to a shore-based radiologist, but investigators said the X-rays did not include a side view, which meant the radiologist could not properly determine whether the cervical spine had been damaged.

The report also added that Gilks was placed on a bed rather than on a spinal board, which is usually used to stabilise patients with suspected spinal injuries.

Two days later, his condition worsened significantly. He was found to be paralysed, and the ship’s doctor recommended that he be medically evacuated.

The investigation said the ship’s captain decided not to request a helicopter evacuation because sea conditions were still dangerous. Instead, the decision was made to keep the passenger on board until the ship reached Portsmouth, United Kingdom, later that day.

The report stated that the captain considered the risks of transferring the patient by helicopter in rough seas and concluded that it would be safer to wait until the vessel arrived in port.

After the ship reached Portsmouth, Gilks was taken by ambulance to hospital. Doctors later confirmed that he had suffered a severe cervical spinal injury, an injury that would have left him permanently quadriplegic.

He died in hospital on 8 November 2023, four days after the accident. The official cause of death was recorded as a complete cervical spine injury.

Investigators also looked into the decision to sail through the Bay of Biscay despite the severe weather forecast. According to the report, weather service providers had advised against the crossing, warning about extremely rough sea conditions.

However, the captain’s decision to continue the voyage was not strongly challenged by the ship’s crew or by operational staff ashore.

Following the investigation, the agency issued several safety recommendations for the cruise industry. One suggestion is for cruise ships to install electronic systems that measure vessel stability, helping crews better understand ship movements during heavy weather.

References: BBC, nypost