Snow Stops Search For Oil Rig Crew

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30946, 30 December 1965, Page 10

Snow Stops Search For Oil Rig Crew

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, December 29.

Snow swirled over the North Sea today and held up attempts by divers to search the sunken wreck of the oil rig Sea Gem for possible survivors.

A spokesman for the British Petroleum Company, operators of the giant 5600-ton rig which collapsed into freezing seas 40 miles east of London on Monday said the chances of survival for the eight missing crewmen were “almost nil.” As soon as the weather improved divers were hoping to cut their way into the submerged rig to make sure there was no-one trapped in air pockets in the living quarters. But early today as snow began falling, two of the five vessels standing by in the area were returning to port. A life-boat, a tug and the B.P. supply vessel Northshore remained at the site were 19 of the rig’s crew of 32 were snatched from the sea by rescue ships and helicopters. Five men are known dead. An American technical expert, Mr Dean Sutherland, aged 45, who survived the disaster, collapsed in his hotel room in London last night and was taken to hospital.

A hospital spokesman said he was suffering from exposure and delayed shock. A B.P. spokesman said early today that Mr Sutherland “has suffered a mild stroke.” A Government inquiry has been ordered into the collapse of the rig, which struck a rich gasfield last September.