Victory for iceberg victims as operator admits liability

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The crash caused a massive wave to sweep across the deck, leaving several passengers badly hurt on a £3,000-a-head glacier trip aboard the MV Alexey Maryshev in Norway.

Phillip Banks, of solicitors Irwin Mitchell, said the boat listed violently, throwing passengers across the deck.

They include a London couple, Julian and Valerie Benington, from Orpington, who told how they were "nearly killed" when the shards rained down on them. Some passengers were airlifted to hospital.

Mr Benington, 69, a councillor in Bromley, said: "A huge section of the glacier came down. If it had come down over the boat, God knows what would have happened. It was the size of a house. It is a miracle nobody was swept off the boat and killed."

Mr Benington claimed the ship's captain sailed too close to the iceberg in Svalbard, an Arctic territory of Norway, in August 2007.

The case was due to be heard at the High Court next year but on Friday tour operator Discover the World accepted responsibility and will now negotiate compensation.

Another passenger, Donald Reid, said: "I am glad that Discover The World have admitted liability. I am sure this is the right thing for them to do as a respected tour operator. I hope that we can move swiftly from here to a settlement which is fair to all."

Discover the World declined to comment.