Details about the sinking of a Viking ship replica off Norway, in which an American woman lost her life, are becoming known

A strong wave was likely responsible for the capsizing of a replica Viking ship off the coast of Norway earlier this week. killed a US citizenPolice said on Thursday and described it as a “tragic accident” that did not constitute a criminal offense.

The wooden replica, named Naddodd, crossed the North Atlantic from the Faroe Islands to Norway with an international team of six people. The 33-foot double-masted vessel, which was built in the Faroe Islands, left the islands halfway between Scotland and Iceland on Saturday.

On Tuesday, the ship encountered strong winds and high waves and capsized late at night off the coastal town of Stad, about 345 kilometers from the capital Oslo.

Survivors told police that the weather “suddenly became much worse than predicted, with very high waves.” Rescue workers said some of the waves were up to 5 meters high at the time.

Norwegian Sea Rescue Society posted video one of his boats navigating the rough seas during the search for the capsized ship.

The five survivors managed to get into an inflatable life raft and were later flown to safety by helicopter. A sixth person who was trapped under the boat drowned, police said. The victim's body was found on Wednesday.

Police did not release the victim's name, but Norwegian and Faroese media identified her as 29-year-old archaeologist Karla Dana from Florida.

“I am so excited to be part of this crew that will fearlessly embark on this Nordic voyage on a replica Viking ship across the North Sea, pushing physical and mental boundaries to sail into history,” Dana posted on her LinkedIn profile before the trip.

Sail2North Expeditions, which organized the trip, told CBS News it would release more information about the incident on Friday. In a June Instagram post, Sail2North called Dana “the youngest member of our crew and embodies both the curiosity of a field explorer and the boldness of an adventurer.”

In 2023, Dana joined the Florida chapter of the Explorers Club, BBC News reported. Joseph Dituri, chairman of the club's Florida chapter, told the news agency that her death was a reminder “that we make these dangerous expeditions and explorations look easy when they are not.”

“This brave explorer left this planet far too soon to do something she loved,” he told BBC News. “Her spirit of discovery was evident in everything she did, as was her zest for life! The world is a better place for her since she was here.”