Man ‘overboard’ found injured behind bulkhead. A major sea search was launched in the North Sea for a seafarer reported missing overboard but he was found still on board the ship where he had lain for 42 hours with a broken leg. The man was thought to have gone missing from the dive support vessel pelican, of SUBSEA 7, in the early hours of dec. 16, around 40 miles east of Aberdeen.
The search involved 10 vessels and two helicopters and was co-ordinated by aberdeen Coastguard that afternoon, George Downie, watch manager, Aberdeen Coastguard, said: “Visibility is good, but we are very concerned for the welfare of this man. Sea temperatures in the middle of the North Sea will be cold and there is a two metre swell. “Our colleagues at the Norwegian Coastguard are assisting us with communications.” The following day, the man was found behind a bulkhead in a storeroom on the ship and it appeared that he had been there for the last 42 hours. Late on Dec. 17, Mr. Downie said:“We are absolutely amazed and delighted that this man has been found. A very thorough search on the vessel was made several times over by the crew.