Authorities investigating incident
A 32-year-old worker has died following an incident aboard a North Sea drilling rig, prompting investigators to examine safety practices on a vessel that experienced a fatal incident less than three years ago.
Lee Hulse was working on the Valaris 121 jackup drilling rig, located 140 miles east of Aberdeen, when the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning, reported BBC.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Police Scotland have launched investigations. Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and that a report had been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Valaris, the rig operator, confirmed the fatality in a statement, according to the report: "Valaris regrets to inform that a crew member onboard its Valaris 121 (V121) jackup drilling rig sadly died as a result of an incident in the early hours of Friday."
“All remaining personnel onboard the V121 at the time of the incident have been safely accounted for."
Operations on the V121 have been temporarily halted. Valaris said its priority was "the safety and wellbeing of all personnel."
Shell, which operates the Shearwater platform where the rig was working, expressed condolences, adding it is providing support to Valaris following the incident."
The incident marks the second serious tragedy involving the Valaris 121, according to BBC. In January 2023, a 50-year-old worker, Jason Thomas from Wales, went missing from the same rig, which was positioned approximately 100 miles southeast of Aberdeen. His body was never found.
An HSE investigation into the 2023 incident revealed that a grating on the rig's deck had been dislodged, putting workers at risk of falling through. A hole was discovered in the deck on the day Thomas went missing.
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist Hulse's family with funeral costs. A statement on the page read: “Tragically and very suddenly, Lee has lost his life." Leaving behind his family that loved him the most.
“No family, partner, or friends are ever prepared for this type of loss. Lee always looked after his family and all his friends, so this is our turn to make sure we look after him and give him the best send off that he deserves and make sure his daughter is well looked after.”
