American archaeologist Karla Dana tragically lost her life after the replica boat she was in capsized in rough seas during an expedition from the Faroe Islands to Norway. The incident occurred on the fourth day of the trip when the Naddoddur encountered trouble, prompting a distress signal to be sent.
Out of the six people on board, only five managed to get into an inflatable life raft and were later airlifted to safety by helicopter. Unfortunately, Dana’s body was found the following morning near where the boat sank. The 29-year-old archaeologist had expressed her fears about the trip in a blog post, citing the raw power of nature in the North Sea.
Dana, who specialized in the Viking era, had an extensive background in archaeology, having worked and studied in various countries around the world. She was a member of The Explorers Club and was pursuing a master’s degree in archaeology at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland.
The Naddoddur boat club chairman in the Faroe Islands expressed sadness over the tragic accident, noting that the 10m-long boat had been on previous Viking voyages to Iceland, Shetland, and Norway. The expedition, which was not affiliated with Viking Cruises, had been postponed several days due to bad weather before setting sail.
Locals and fellow crew members were in shock over the incident, with one seaman mentioning that visitors were eager to join expeditions on the boat. The Norwegian Sea Rescue Society described the conditions during the capsizing as very demanding, with waves reaching up to 5m and winds up to 40 knots.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing, with a Norwegian team expected to speak to the Naddoddur boat club chairman. Despite the tragic outcome, Dana’s adventurous spirit and passion for archaeology will be remembered by those who knew her.
