Cruise Passenger, 85, Dies After Chair Flips in Violent Storm at Sea

An 85-year-old cruise passenger died after a terrifying fall during a brutal storm that slammed his ship, according to an official investigation.

Trevor Gilks was aboard Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery when the vessel was battered by force-11 winds while crossing the Bay of Biscay off western France and northern Spain on November 4, 2023. The ship hit choppy, rolling seas so intense that more than 100 people were injured, with eight seriously hurt passengers later taken to the hospital when the ship reached Portsmouth.

Gilks was sitting in a high-backed armchair when the ship reportedly rolled violently — and the chair toppled backward, sending him down with it. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said he broke his neck in the fall and died four days later.

Crew members helped Gilks back into the chair and then assisted him to his cabin. He was later taken by wheelchair to the ship’s medical center, where X-rays of his neck were taken and emailed to a radiologist on shore for review.

But the investigation noted a major problem: the radiologist replied that they couldn’t determine whether Gilks’ cervical spine was damaged because the images didn’t include a side-on view. Despite that, no additional X-rays were taken. Investigators also pointed out that Gilks was placed on a bed in the medical center rather than secured on a spinal board.

As his condition worsened on November 6, a doctor on board became concerned he could become paralyzed and needed urgent evacuation. However, with high seas making a helicopter transfer risky, the ship’s captain decided it was safer for Gilks to remain on board until Spirit of Discovery arrived in Portsmouth later that day.

Gilks was transferred by ambulance to a hospital after arrival, but he died on November 8. His cause of death was recorded as a complete cervical spine injury.

The MAIB report also examined the captain’s decision to cross the Bay of Biscay amid extreme conditions, saying the choice was “not effectively challenged” by crew members or shore-based operational teams — even though weather information providers had advised against making the crossing.

During the chaos, the ship also lost propulsion after its violent movements caused its propellers to overspeed, triggering an automatic shutdown.

Following the incident, the MAIB issued recommendations, including requiring cruise ships to be fitted with electronic devices that measure stability.

Saga Cruises responded with a statement saying it continues to think of Gilks’ loved ones and everyone impacted by the incident. The company said it accepts the MAIB’s recommendations, but disputes some conclusions and argued the synopsis didn’t accurately reflect the full report. Saga added that safety is its top priority, and said it took steps after the incident to strengthen policies and procedures — work it says was recognized by the MAIB.

The report did not reveal where Gilks lived, and his family declined to comment.