Two experienced fishermen drown in Lofoten’s treacherous Nappstraumen strait

A father and son, both described as seasoned sailors, died after their boat capsized in the notorious Nappstraumen strait in Lofoten during the Easter holiday, Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet reports.

The 34-year-old man and his 8-year-old son were fishing with the father’s brother when the accident occurred on Maundy Thursday. The two victims were pulled from the water and rushed to hospital but could not be revived. The uncle survived after being rescued by a lifeboat crew.

Local officials expressed shock over the tragedy, which unfolded in calm weather. “When conditions are fine and this happens to people used to being at sea, it makes everyone ask: ‘What’s going on?’” said Einar Benjaminsen, mayor of Flakstad municipality. His counterpart in neighbouring Vestvågøy, Jonny Finstad, called the incident “utterly devastating,” noting its impact on the tight-knit coastal community.

A history of deadly accidents

This is the second fatal incident in Nappstraumen in less than a year. In September 2025, Swedish schoolgirl Ebba Torstenson, 11, drowned after a boating accident in the same waters. Rescue diver Adrian Willyson Brask, 33, also died during the recovery operation. The same lifeboat station and vessel responded to both emergencies.

“Last autumn’s tragedy still weighs heavily on our crews,” said Kristian Nygård, emergency preparedness chief for the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue. “Yet they remain steadfast in their missions, fully focused on saving lives.” He emphasised the strait’s unpredictable conditions, where wind and current can create sudden, violent waves even in fair weather.

One of Norway’s most dangerous waterways

Records show at least 18 deaths in Nappstraumen over the past century, including sunken trawlers and vehicles lost from ferries. In the 1970s, a West German salvage boat and an East German cargo ship both sank during a failed recovery attempt. Locals believe the true toll is far higher.

“This is an area commands respect,” said Benjaminsen, who also serves in the local history society. “Generations have known its dangers.” Finstad echoed the warning: “Nappstraumen has one of Norway’s strongest currents. Everyone here understands the risks.”

While authorities acknowledge the hazards, formal restrictions remain unlikely. “It’s been a vital passage for thousands of years,” Finstad noted. Police deferred to the Norwegian Coastal Administration for safety assessments but confirmed no recent changes to access rules.