The American was 29 years old.
This was reported by Sail2North, which organized the expedition, on their Instagram account Friday morning.
– It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that our dear friend and explorer, Karla Dana, has passed away, it states in the post.
– We offer our deepest condolences to Karla’s family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing her. We express our deepest sympathy and support, and we hope they find comfort in the good memories of Karla and the deep impact she had on our lives.
– The journey reflected her commitment
Dana was part of the crew that was to sail and row from the Faroe Islands to Trondheim this week.
But on Tuesday, the crew encountered problems outside Måløy. Gales and high waves ultimately caused the boat to capsize in the evening.
The other five members of the crew were rescued that same evening.
Dana was retrieved from the sea around 08:00 on Wednesday morning. By then, she was dead.
Was going to become an archaeologist
The Swiss captain Andy Fitze led the expedition. He is the one who operates Sail2North.
But in the post, Dana’s sister and her fiancé made a statement:
– Karla lived by one simple quote: “Nothing is impossible. The very word says I’m possible,” by Audrey Hepburn. She tackled every adventure with a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye. She created a light that brightened everyone around her, wherever she went.
– Karla’s pursuit of meaningful science will continue to inspire us all, concludes the post.
Dana had previously worked with cultural preservation with indigenous peoples in Costa Rica and Panama.
She also studied archaeology in Scotland.
She worked on an excavation of an area used by Vikings in the Orkney Islands before going to the Faroe Islands to prepare for the voyage.
Could not free herself
Police believe Dana may have been struck unconscious and drowned. According to them, all the crew members were fastened to the boat with safety lines that they must cut themselves free from. But Dana could not free herself, according to the police.
It was rescue personnel who eventually freed her.
These are situations the crew trained for, according to a blog post that was published on Sail2North’s website before the expedition.
In a blog post before the voyage, Dana wrote that she had bought an extra knife for the trip so that she could cut the safety line so she wouldn’t be dragged after the boat in case they capsized.
In the text published on Instagram, it states that the crew had received extensive training before the trip and that they were well prepared.
– Despite their diligent efforts and adherence to these measures, the outcome was unforeseen and deeply disturbing.
Believes no one can be held accountable
The police initially were to investigate the accident, but closed the case after a short time.
The expedition leader cannot be held responsible, police attorney Kristina Munkejord has previously stated to BT.
– They organized the trip on their own. Therefore, there is no tour guide or organizer who can be held responsible. The planning of the trip also did not take place on Norwegian soil. So if there are shortcomings in it, they are outside Norwegian jurisdiction, says Munkejord.
– A great sorrow
The Minister of Culture in the Faroe Islands, Sirið Stenberg, told BT that the accident has affected the local community. The crew met with several hundred school children before they left, to tell them about the voyage.
According to Stenberg, Dana made a great impression on everyone.
– She talked about previous journeys and her work, and the children were very interested.