Deckhand drowns after falling off oilfield crew boat

FILE – In this July 13, 2017, photo released by the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, an oil industry facility in the Gulf of Mexico …

FILE – In this July 13, 2017, photo released by the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, an oil industry facility in the Gulf of Mexico is seen. The U.S. government has accepted nearly $190 million in bids from an offshore oil and gas lease sale that was held nearly a year ago but rejected by a federal judge, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. (U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement via AP, File)

by: Dionne Johnson

Posted: Nov 28, 2022 / 06:37 PM CST

Updated: Nov 29, 2022 / 11:37 AM CST

LOUISIANA (KLFY) — A deck hand drowned over the weekend after falling off a crew boat that was tying up to an oil platform.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Gabriel Wisdom confirmed to News 10 that the incident took place Saturday 65 miles south of Vermilion Bay in the Gulf of Mexico.

Wisdom said watch-standers received a radio call around 10:30 a.m. reporting a man had reportedly fallen overboard.

Following an urgent marine broadcast, he said, rescue boats and an air crew were sent to the area.

The victim, 40, was located in the water by the air crew, Wisdom said.

A life raft was deployed, and the platform boat moved to rescue but the victim went underwater due to heavy seas and did not resurface.