An American archaeologist died after a replica Viking boat she was sailing on capsized off the coast of Norway on Tuesday, according to reports.
The Naddoddur, a replica Viking ship piloted by the Sail2North expedition group, was carrying six people when it capsized near the town of Stad during the sailors’ fourth day at sea. Five of the passengers escaped on an inflatable life raft, but one person remained missing until a woman’s body was found in the water on Wednesday.
Norwegian media identified the deceased woman as 29-year-old Karla Dana. A Sail2North Instagram post described Dana as “the youngest member of our crew” who “epitomizes the spirit of exploration.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed the death of an American citizen on Thursday morning, but did not identify the deceased individual.
“We can confirm the death of a U.S. citizen off the coast of Norway,” the spokesperson said. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. Out of respect for the privacy of the family, we have no further comment at this time.”
A public relations group representing the Sail2North expedition group told Digital via email that they were unable to comment further at this time “as the circumstances are still being clarified.” An official statement was expected to be released Friday at 11 a.m. CET.
At the time the vessel capsized and sent a distress signal, Norway’s Sea Rescue Society said conditions were “very demanding,” sharing a video of winds as strong as 40 knots and waves as high as 16 feet.
On Thursday, police said a strong wave was likely responsible for capsizing the Viking ship replica, describing it as a “tragic accident” that did not constitute a criminal matter.
Dana’s LinkedIn profile states she is an archaeologist with a focus on the . It states she previously worked and studied in various countries, including Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Spain, England, Germany, Morocco, China and Taiwan.