Coast Guard: Body found near burned Gulf oil rig

Source: AP-Excite

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Divers hired by the owner of an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico that caught fire recovered a body near the site Saturday evening, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and the rig's owner.

Coast Guard spokesman Carlos Vega said late Saturday that the unidentified person was found by divers hired by Houston-based Black Elk Energy who were inspecting the platform. Vega said the Coast Guard was turning over the remains to local authorities.

John Hoffman, the president and CEO of Black Elk Energy, said in an email late Saturday that the body is apparently that of one of two crew members missing since an explosion and fire on the oil platform Friday morning. Hoffman said the body was found by a contracted dive vessel at 5:25 p.m. CST.

"Divers will continue to search for the second missing worker," Hoffman wrote. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families."

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20121118/DA2K6F3G1.html

---

In this aerial photograph, a supply vessel moves near an oil rig damaged by an explosion and fire, Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, in the Gulf of Mexico about 25 miles southeast of Grand Isle, La. Four people were transported to a hospital with critical burns and two were missing. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)