Cruise passenger killed when 'freak wave' hits ship in English Channel

A passenger aboard a British cruise ship was killed when it was hit by a large wave in the English Channel, the ship's owner says. Cruise & Maritime Voyages said another passenger was airlifted to shore for medical attention, CNN reported Friday. The casualties occurred when what was described as a "freak wave" hit the side of the ship, the MS Marco Polo, as passengers were eating lunch in one of the ship's restaurants, the cruise line said. The wave broke the restaurant's windows, causing the injuries. The identity and nationality of the dead passenger was not released, although the cruise line said the passengers were primarily British. The ship was en route to its home port in Tilbury from the Azores with 735 passengers and 349 crew members aboard. The ship was expected to dock Sunday in Tilbury.