Breaking wave hits Statoil drilling rig in the North Sea, one dead, two injured

A huge breaking wave hit yesterday the drilling rig COSL Innovator with one worker dead, Statoil said on Wednesday.

Two other people were injured and are receiving medical treatment ashore. The rig is now heading to shore under its own power, while evacuation takes place.

"It is with great sadness that Statoil and COSL have received confirmed information from the police that one person has died as a result of the breaking wave that hit the drilling rig COSL Innovator today," the report said.

COSL and Statoil were notified at 5 pm on Wednesday 30 December that three people had been injured when a breaking wave hit COSL Innovator. Statoil and COSL have mobilized their emergency response organizations.

COSL Innovator is under contract to Statoil at the Troll field in the North Sea, west of Bergen. The rig had been taken off the well as a result of the bad weather before the incident occurred. The breaking wave also caused some damage to the rig's accommodation module.

The injured persons have been flown to shore by Sea King helicopter from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and by one of Statoil’s own rescue helicopters.

Statoil is assisting COSL with evacuation of the rig down to the safety crew. Evacuees are being flown ashore.