Inside horror Spirit of Discovery cruise with 30-foot waves, shattered balconies and 15 hours trapped in storm

More details are emerging about the that was battered by 30-foot waves during a major storm one year ago.

The Spirit of Discovery liner was travelling back to the UK along the Bay of Biscay on November 4, 2023 when The crew decided to return to the UK when the propulsion safety system was activated in poor weather, causing it to veer suddenly to the left, and bringing the ship to a sudden stop.

Now, an interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has revealed that a person died and more than 100 others were injured in the incident. Passengers onboard the vessel described the terrifying moment they were told to either "remain seated or lie down" as they were forced to "hold on for dear life".

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People said they were "thrown" by the force of the emergency stop and pictures show books, tables and other furniture flung to the ground as the intense storm gripped the ship. Other terrifying images show shattered glass on the ship's deck after huge waves destroyed windows and balconies.

Days after the incident, Carol Lake, one of the passengers on board the cruise, told the that she feared for her life as the boat was "swaying like a pendulum" in the waves. The 63-year-old radio presenter decided to watch in her cabin as a form of distraction from what was happening.

She revealed: "I'd packed my bag early but realised no one in the Bay of Biscay was coming to rescue us if we went over and thought for the first time I wasn't going to make it. I have had a good life and thought 'this is it then' as I could hear others in alarm around me - and so I turned the television on and watched Strictly.

"It was like a horror movie outside with the waves going up so high. I just tried to keep a tad of normality in a situation I had absolutely no control over, plus I could turn the sound up to drown the ferociously howling winds."

The new report states that there were 943 passengers and 503 crew on board when the ship, which had sailed from Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands faced force 11 winds and a sea state rated 8 for very high. The MAIB document says: "At about 1230 on 4 November 2023, the passenger vessel Spirit of Discovery lost propulsion in heavy while crossing the Bay of Biscay.

"This led to the vessel moving violently while the crew restarted the vessel's propulsion. The propulsion issues, storm force conditions and vessel motions continued until the following morning when Spirit of Discovery was able to continue its passage.

"During this period over 100 passengers were injured. Eight of the seriously injured passengers were taken directly to hospital on arrival at Portsmouth, England, one of whom later died from their injuries."

The report continues: "The MAIB's investigation has considered all aspects of the accident to determine the causes and circumstances of Spirit of Discovery's loss of propulsion in heavy weather and the on-board response, including analysis of the vessel's intended passage, preparations for operating in heavy weather, the on-board response to passenger injuries and damage, and the medical treatment of injured passengers."

A spokeswoman for Saga said all guests on the trip had been offered a full refund and added: "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the family of our guest who died following the storm in the Bay of Biscay last year. We are continuing to work with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, supporting their investigation."