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Ship on which man was killed 'had undergone recent survey'

The cruise operator has insisted that the Marco Polo ship - on which a man was killed on Friday - had undergone "stringent and rigorous surveys". His widow has blamed the "badly maintained" vessel for his death.

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Wife's tribute to 'lovely husband' killed on cruise ship

The wife of a man killed after a freak wave hit a cruise ship in the English Channel has paid tribute to her "lovely husband".

James Swinstead, 85, died "almost instantly" after water rushed on board the British cruise ship Marco Polo as it was battered by waves during severe storms.

Helen Swinstead speaking after disembarking from the ship. Credit: ITV News/ Charlotte Grant

Mr Swinstead, a father-of-two from Colchester, Essex, was on the cruise with his wife Helen.

Speaking in Tilbury after the ship docked, she said: "I think it killed him almost instantly. He was a lovely husband.

"It was quite dreadful. I was sitting next to him and this window came in and the sea with it.

"We were all very, very wet. I think a woman was taken to hospital and my husband was going to get on the helicopter but he died before they could get him on it.

"He's never made headline news. He'll be sitting on his cloud chortling."

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