Man killed as massive wave hits oil platform

A MAN has died and 150 people had to be evacuated from offshore platforms in two incidents as storms caused 50ft waves in the North Sea.

Strong winds tore a 360ft long and 100ft wide barge from its moorings and it came close to colliding with offshore oil platforms in the Valhall field, forcing about 150 people to be evacuated to other areas.

The vessel missed the field by just over half a mile.

Elsewhere, a man died and two others were injured when a huge wave hit another rig earlier in the Troll field.

Both the incidents occurred in the Norwegian sector of the sea.

The danger posed by the barge is now thought to be over.

Norwegian Coastguard spokesman Borghild Eldoen said: “There are no other installations between the barge and the coast of Norway.

“It is now up to the owners of the barge to stop it before it reaches the coast.”

BP spokesman Jan-Erik Geirmo said the evacuees were taken to other oil fields as a precaution, while 85 people remained on platforms in the Valhall field on Thursday morning.