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| Britons injured by Arctic glacier | Britons injured by Arctic glacier |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A group of British holidaymakers were injured on a sightseeing ship in the Arctic when ice fell from a glacier. | A group of British holidaymakers were injured on a sightseeing ship in the Arctic when ice fell from a glacier. |
| A total of 17 British passengers were injured, two seriously, along with one crew member, off the Svalbard Islands, 500km (310 miles) north of Norway. | A total of 17 British passengers were injured, two seriously, along with one crew member, off the Svalbard Islands, 500km (310 miles) north of Norway. |
| Ice is thought to have hit the deck of the luxury vessel and fallen into the sea close by causing the ship to list. | Ice is thought to have hit the deck of the luxury vessel and fallen into the sea close by causing the ship to list. |
| Four of the injured were flown to a hospital on the Norwegian mainland and 14 were taken to a local hospital. | Four of the injured were flown to a hospital on the Norwegian mainland and 14 were taken to a local hospital. |
| The Russian crew member was among those taken to Tromso on the mainland. None of the injuries are life-threatening. | The Russian crew member was among those taken to Tromso on the mainland. None of the injuries are life-threatening. |
| Passengers 'thrown' | Passengers 'thrown' |
| A spokesman for University Hospital in Tromso said two Britons were transferred via helicopter to the emergency medical centre with a further two arriving five hours later. | A spokesman for University Hospital in Tromso said two Britons were transferred via helicopter to the emergency medical centre with a further two arriving five hours later. |
| A British tourist in his late 60s was among those being treated. The other two are believed to their late 40s and mid-50s. | A British tourist in his late 60s was among those being treated. The other two are believed to their late 40s and mid-50s. |
| Four others were being treated in hospital at Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard group. | Four others were being treated in hospital at Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard group. |
| Ten others were treated for minor injuries at the hospital and are now back on the 660ft-long (216 metres) boat, which was able to dock at Longyearbyen. | Ten others were treated for minor injuries at the hospital and are now back on the 660ft-long (216 metres) boat, which was able to dock at Longyearbyen. |
| Jan Tommervold, a deputy sheriff on Svalbard, said the Alexey Maryshev, a Russian research vessel converted into a luxury sightseeing boat, was hit by the ice late on Wednesday. | |
| Police said the ship had sailed close to the towering Horn glacier at Svalbard for a better look when ice broke off and hit the vessel's side and deck, where some passengers had gathered. | Police said the ship had sailed close to the towering Horn glacier at Svalbard for a better look when ice broke off and hit the vessel's side and deck, where some passengers had gathered. |
| "The Russian captain said they were tight into the Horn glacier when it calved," said another deputy, Petter Braathen. | "The Russian captain said they were tight into the Horn glacier when it calved," said another deputy, Petter Braathen. |
| Embassy assisting | Embassy assisting |
| He said blocks of ice crashed into the water near the ship causing it to be tossed back and forth by the waves "throwing" the passengers around. | He said blocks of ice crashed into the water near the ship causing it to be tossed back and forth by the waves "throwing" the passengers around. |
| The injured Britons were among 50 passengers - all British - who had booked a trip through UK specialist tour company Discover The World. | The injured Britons were among 50 passengers - all British - who had booked a trip through UK specialist tour company Discover The World. |
| A spokesman for the company said: "We understand that some of the smaller pieces of ice and water were washed onto the ship's deck and seven passengers were injured." | A spokesman for the company said: "We understand that some of the smaller pieces of ice and water were washed onto the ship's deck and seven passengers were injured." |
| The company added: "We have done all possible to contact the next of kin of those passengers who were injured, and we will continue to keep in close contact with them." | The company added: "We have done all possible to contact the next of kin of those passengers who were injured, and we will continue to keep in close contact with them." |
| We have been operating since 1982 and this is our first accident... so this is serious Ko de Korte Oceanwide Expeditions | We have been operating since 1982 and this is our first accident... so this is serious Ko de Korte Oceanwide Expeditions |
| The company said it was in regular contact with the British Embassy in Oslo which was assisting with the situation. | The company said it was in regular contact with the British Embassy in Oslo which was assisting with the situation. |
| It also said the rest of the passengers had been happy to stay on the boat at Longyearbyen for the rest of their trip which ends on Sunday. | It also said the rest of the passengers had been happy to stay on the boat at Longyearbyen for the rest of their trip which ends on Sunday. |
| The ages of the Britons on board had ranged from around 40 up to the 70s. | The ages of the Britons on board had ranged from around 40 up to the 70s. |
| Ko de Korte of Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch Company which operates the ship, said there were 72 people aboard. | Ko de Korte of Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch Company which operates the ship, said there were 72 people aboard. |
| "The company director is on his way," he said. | "The company director is on his way," he said. |
| "We have been operating since 1982 and this is our first accident... so this is serious." | "We have been operating since 1982 and this is our first accident... so this is serious." |
| The Svalbard Islands, which are about 1,000km (620 miles) from the North Pole, are a popular tourist destination during the summer, with about 20 similar ships cruising the region in season. | The Svalbard Islands, which are about 1,000km (620 miles) from the North Pole, are a popular tourist destination during the summer, with about 20 similar ships cruising the region in season. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| You can also send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 7725 100 100. | You can also send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
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