Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
A STRICKEN grandmother sprawls helplessly in the freezing Arctic Ocean - after paramedics DROPPED her during an attempted mercy mission.
Brit Janet Richardson, 73, was being moved to a rescue boat after falling ill on her cruise ship when she slipped into the -3°C waves off Norway.
She was last night fighting for life in a UK hospital.
Nightmare ... Janet, ringed, drifts at sea before she was picked up
Shaken hubby George yesterday described the moment paramedics spilled his seriously ill wife into the deadly water - and admitted: "I really thought I'd lost her."
George, 78, was with Janet on a cruise along the coast of Norway when she was struck down with internal bleeding.
The worried skipper called in a rescue boat to take her to hospital.
But as local paramedics transferred her to their vessel, her stretcher slipped from their grasp and she tumbled into the -3°C sea.
Shocked rescuers took EIGHT MINUTES to pluck her from the waves before finally taking her to hospital.
So far so good ... stricken Janet is lifted from ship to rescue vessel
Last night 73-year-old Janet, from Penrith, Cumbria, was fighting for life in the intensive care unit at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary following an airlift to the UK.
She had been treated both for her original illness and complications caused by her ocean plunge.
Doctors had no idea when her condition might improve.
Retired farmer George - who shares eight grandchildren with his wife - said: "Janet had always wanted to go on a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords so she could see the Northern Lights.
Horror ... she sprawls in ocean after rescuers dropped her stretcher
"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.
Holiday ... Janet and George booked Norway cruise
"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.
Cruise ship ... Janet sailed on Ocean Princess
"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."
George, who has a son and daughter by a previous marriage, added: "The authorities over there say health and safety is paramount - but if they'd wanted to be totally safe they could have gone into port or held the lifeboat to the ship with a rope or something.
"They were reluctant to go into port because they were already running late and it would have meant extra expense and further delays. I hope lessons will be learned."
Fellow passenger Colin Prescott, who witnessed the bungled rescue attempt, said: "The two vessels were steaming at ten knots at the time they tried to transfer her, but they didn't lash them together.
"There were two people on the search-and-rescue boat and others passing the stretcher across from deck three of the ship on the other side. But the boats suddenly moved apart by several feet and they couldn't keep hold of it.
"When they dropped it there was pandemonium. She went down into the water and within seconds was about half a mile from the ship.
"Lots of people were watching on deck and we couldn't believe they had let her fall - especially with the water being so cold.
"A lady behind me actually fainted. The rescue boat came back around to pick the woman up and she went to hospital - but she was in the water about eight minutes.
"Later on the crew wouldn't tell us anything about her condition or what had happened to her. Everybody was worried sick for her. We thought she was a goner."
Janet, who has three daughters from previous marriages, had sailed from Hull on March 20 aboard cruise ship Ocean Princess. The incident happened on March 29.
Following her rescue, she was taken to hospital in the northern Norwegian city of Bodo.
Hospital worker Shirley Bottelfsen said: "It was a terrible experience for Janet, her husband and the other passengers. Everyone felt very sorry for them. Luckily Janet had a lifebelt on which saved her life."
The Richardsons' trip is operated by Cruise and Maritime Voyages.
A spokesman said: "The lady was very seriously ill, and the captain and ship's doctor decided she needed to disembark as the ship was not due to dock until the next day.
"A rescue was launched and, although the ship is equipped with a helipad, the Norwegian rescue crews decided to launch a sea rescue.
"Unfortunately during this the lady did fall into the sea, but she was then taken to hospital and treated.
"Although we don't own this ship, we have been in contact with its owners and the Norwegian rescue authorities and a full investigation into the incident is taking place.
"The actual logistics of the rescue was in the hands of the Norwegian rescue team, but we will assist the investigation fully."