Worker dies on North Sea support vessel

An accident on board a North Sea support vessel has left one worker dead and another injured. Matthew Grey, 59, from Darlington, was working in the cargo tanks of the Bleo Holm 72 miles north east of Aberdeen when he died on Saturday evening. The pipe fitter's colleague, Norman Jackson, 58, from North Shields, was flown to hospital with an arm injury.

Talisman Energy, which operates the vessel, said an investigation was under way to find out the cause.
The accident happened at about 2120 GMT.

Mr Grey, who worked for engineering firm Aker Kvaerner, was treated at the scene by the vessel's medic but died before he could be stabilised and airlifted. Talisman said Mr Grey's family had been informed. An investigation team including officers from Grampian Police and the Health and Safety Executive and representatives from Talisman and Aker Kvaerner, boarded the vessel at 1100 GMT on Sunday.

Nick Walker, Talisman Energy's UK vice president, said: "On behalf of everyone at Talisman Energy, I would like to express our deepest sympathy to Matthew's family. Our thoughts and condolences are with them during what is clearly a very difficult time. Talisman is fully committed to investigating the reasons for this appalling tragedy."

Mr Jackson, a rigging foreman, was treated by the vessel's medic before being transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on Sunday morning. He left hospital after a few hours.

The Bleo Holm is owned by the firm Bluewater and works in the Ross, Parry and Blake fields. It is described as a floating production and storage offloading vessel. Thirteen of the 77 personnel on board have been moved to Aberdeen in order to accommodate the investigation teams.

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