Man Falls 20ft from Rig

Christina Cole

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After falling 20ft in a rig accident, an offshore rig worker has been airlifted to the hospital with severe head injuries.

The drilling rig was being towed twenty miles offshore when the accident occurred early Sunday offshore from Portland in Dorset. Portland Coastguard was able to land on the rig although the sea conditions were rough and experiencing storm force winds.

The 22-year-old worker was airlifted to the specialist neurological unit at Southampton Hospital. In extreme conditions the crew was able to land the helicopter onto the rig platform 112 feet above sea level. The derrick (framework holding the drilling machine) on the right would make winching a casualty too dangerous so a landing was necessary.