A British woman died in an Italian hospital after being evacuated from a Fred Olsen cruise with COVID.

The 60-year-old suffered respiratory complications, according to Mailonline.

She was on a Mediterranean cruise when she tested positive for COVID.

The cruise, on the Bolette, which was carrying 800 people, had previously sailed through the Norwegian fjords.

The woman and her husband – who also tested positive – had been isolating in their cabin and were looked after by the ship’s medial team until she was transferred to hospital when the ship came into port at Salerno last Wednesday.

Unfortunately doctors were unable to move her to an intensive care ward at a hospital 18 miles away due to her low heart rate and blood pressure, according to the Mail, and she died last Friday morning.

Her husband is recovering from his symptoms.

The cruise ship had quickly left the port, in accordance with safety protocols designed to limit the spread of COVID.

Peter Deer, Managing Director at Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, said: ‘We were extremely sad to learn of the passing of one of our guests after she was transferred to hospital ashore in Italy.

‘Our medical teams worked very quickly to support her and arranged for her to be transported to hospital as soon as the ship arrived in port.

‘We are in close contact with her husband, and their family, and doing all we can to support them in light of this sad news.”