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Durham couple on board cruise ship struck by enormous wave, killing 1, injuring 4

One person is dead and four are injured after a massive wave crashed into a cruise ship in Antarctica. A Durham couple, who are also passengers on the Viking Polaris, are sharing the story about a vacation that's turned into a nightmare.

Posted Updated

By
Aaron Thomas
, WRAL reporter
DURHAM, N.C. — One person is dead and four are injured after a massive wave crashed into a cruise ship in Antarctica.

A Durham couple, who were also passengers on the Viking Polaris, are sharing their story about a vacation turned into a nightmare.

Suzie Gooding said the views off the coast of Ushuaia, Argentina, were incredible as they traveled toward Antarctica – but the perfect getaway quickly turned into an unexpectedly frightening ordeal.
Durham couple on board cruise ship struck by enormous wave, killing 1, injuring 4

Gooding, who is still on board the cruise ship, spoke with WRAL News by phone, describing the immense impact of the wave, saying, "We wondered if we hit an iceberg. And there are no icebergs out here, but that's how it felt."

A representative from Viking, the cruise company, confirmed that "a rogue wave incident" occurred.

The National Ocean Service describes these waves as "large, unexpected and dangerous."

Think of these forces of nature as "walls of water." One of the most extreme rogue waves ever recorded reached heights of 58 feet -- as high as a 4-story building.
Durham couple on board cruise ship struck by enormous wave, killing 1, injuring 4

"Everything was fine until the rogue wave hit, and it was just sudden. Shocking," said Gooding. "We didn't know if we should get our gear ready for abandoning ship."

Gooding shared photos of what appears to show broken windows on the side of the Viking Polaris from the wave’s impact.
Durham couple's cruise takes unexpectedly deadly turn

A Viking representative shared this statement regarding the death of a passenger and injuries to others:

"We have notified the guest’s family and shared our deepest sympathies. We will continue to offer our full support to the family in the hours and days ahead … Our focus remains on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew, and we are working directly with them to arrange return travel. A two-week journey of stunning views—cut short."
The Goodings hope to fly back into Raleigh-Durham International on Dec. 7.

The couple has already booked the same cruise on a different ship for March 2023.

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