What happened in Lofoten
On Friday afternoon, a boat carrying Swedish tourists capsized in the narrow straits of Nappstraumen, Lofoten. On board were seven people: six Swedish tourists, two of whom were children, plus a Swedish fishing guide. Six of the seven managed to reach the boat’s keel and were rescued, while one 11-year-old girl remained missing as the incident unfolded.
The people aboard and the immediate aftermath
The vessel involved was later identified as a 33‑foot Arronet owned by Nordic Sea Angling. The guide, who was with the group, described a rapid sequence of waves that caused the boat to roll and eventually capsize. In the minutes after the capsize, rescuers worked to reach those in the water as the seabed and currents complicated efforts.
Rescue operations and timeline
Authorities released a detailed sequence of events for the rescue operation. At 12:49, the Hovedredningssentralen Nord-Norge reported a capsized vessel with seven people aboard. A rescue helicopter arrived at 12:55, followed by the redningsskøyte Det Norske Veritas (DNV) at 12:57 with divers on board. By 13:15, divers reached the wreck while life-saving efforts continued on deck. The diver was hoisted to the helicopter by 13:32, and by 13:47 the crisis response center of Redningsselskapet was activated.
Throughout the afternoon, medevac resources were deployed, including airlift to hospital services. As the operation progressed, authorities shifted focus toward searching the surrounding area and performing sector and shore searches as more resources were mobilized. The DNV wound down its involvement later in the afternoon, and other rescue boats and Coast Guard assets expanded the search into the evening.
The search for the missing girl
On Sunday afternoon, police confirmed the 11-year-old girl was found deceased. The body was located near the vessel’s wheelhouse at a depth of about 25 meters by the Coast Guard ship KV Jarl, which had joined the search. KV Jarl retrieved the body and assisted in transporting it from the site; the relatives were notified in accordance with protocol.
Police statement and ongoing investigation
The police thanked everyone who helped in the search and stated that the investigation would continue to determine what caused the boat to capsize. Officials indicated they would provide further updates over the weekend as investigators review the evidence and interview witnesses.
The fallen rescuer and community support
During the rescue operation on Friday, a rescuer was fatally injured. Adrian Willyson Brask was flown to shore by helicopter but died shortly thereafter. A fundraising page (Spleis) was established to support his family, describing Adrian as a longtime Red Cross volunteer and a Redningsselskapet rescuer who dedicated his life to helping others. He was also remembered for bringing comfort to children on hospital wards and for his role in building a sense of community wherever he went.
Reaction and memorials
Colleagues from Skjeggmenn and Skjeggnissene honored Adrian’s memory, noting his unique ability to connect with people and to be a steady, supportive presence. The fund aims to assist his wife, daughter, and extended family during this unimaginably difficult time.
<h2Looking ahead
With the search concluded for the missing girl, authorities will continue the investigation to determine the factors that led to the capsize and to assess any safety measures for future operations in this challenging Arctic waters. The owner of the vessel and other involved parties will cooperate as investigators piece together the sequence of events from the moment the wave interaction caused the overturn to the final discovery on Sunday.
