Oil rig hole riddle

A HOLE was discovered on the deck of a North Sea oil rig on the day a worker disappeared, an investigation has found.

Jason Thomas, 50, from Wales, was reported missing from the Valaris 121, which was stationed around 100 miles southeast of Aberdeen, on January 22.

The Health and Safety Executive, which is still investigating, has now said a grating was dislodged, putting workers at risk of falling through. It has issued an improvement notice on Valaris, the operator of the rig, which is now in Dundee.

Valaris said it had reviewed its grating systems to address the improvement notice.

Police Scotland said the case remained a missing persons inquiry.