Passenger Death (overboard) on Stena Spirit ferry on 27th June 2023

On 27 June 2023, a mother and her 7-year-old child went overboard from the Stena Spirit ferry midway across a Poland–Sweden crossing, approximately 100 kilometres from the Polish coast. A major search and rescue operation involving Swedish and Polish rescue services, NATO vessels, and rescue helicopters was launched immediately. Both passengers were located within one hour and airlifted to hospital in Karlskrona, but were later confirmed deceased on 1 July 2023.

The Stena Spirit, flagged to Denmark, was en route from Karlskrona to Gdynia when the mayday was issued at 14:20 UTC. Danish authorities assumed jurisdiction as the flag state and launched a criminal investigation; Swedish prosecutors announced on 30 June that the case is being investigated as a potential murder.

The ferry issued a mayday signal and notified both Swedish and Polish rescue services at approximately 14:20 UTC. The Swedish Maritime Administration's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) dispatched helicopters and vessels immediately. The Stena Spirit made a complete halt, changed course, and launched a lifeboat. Within approximately one hour, both passengers were located: the woman was recovered by rescue helicopter and the child by lifeboat. Both were winched from the water by helicopter and flown separately to hospital in Karlskrona.

Passengers involved

• Woman, aged 36, Polish national
• Child, aged 7, Polish national

Fatalities

• 2 passengers: woman aged 36 and child aged 7 (both Polish nationals). Confirmed deceased on 1 July 2023.

Injuries

• None reported.

Rescued

• Both passengers were recovered from the water and airlifted to hospital in Karlskrona; both were unresponsive upon recovery.

Swedish and Polish rescue services responded to the mayday. The Swedish Maritime Administration's JRCC coordinated the operation, dispatching rescue helicopters and vessels. Several NATO ships conducting an exercise in the area also assisted. The ferry halted and launched its lifeboat; rescue helicopters winched both passengers from the water. The woman was in the water for 59 minutes and the child for 66 minutes before recovery.

The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board (DMAIB) conducted the investigation, as Denmark is the flag state of the Stena Spirit. On 29 June 2023, DMAIB head Oessur Jarleivson Hilduberg stated: "Our investigation showed quite clearly that it was not an accident." CCTV footage from the vessel and witness testimony were gathered. Swedish prosecutors announced on 30 June that the case is being investigated as a potential murder. The investigation revealed that the child fell into the water first, prompting the mother to follow in an attempt to save him; both jumped from a height of approximately 20 metres (66 feet).

The criminal investigation into the incident is ongoing under Swedish prosecution, with Danish maritime authorities leading the technical investigation as the flag state.