STOCKHOLM - A huge wave slammed into a drilling rig off Norway's west coast on Wednesday, killing one worker, injuring two others and damaging the offshore platform's living quarters, energy company Statoil said.
Other workers were being evacuated from the rig as it headed toward land in the North Sea, Statoil said in a statement.
The state-controlled company said it received information around 5 p.m. (1600 GMT) that the COSL Innovator rig had been hit by a “heavy wave'' that damaged the accommodation module where workers eat and sleep.
Statoil said three injured workers were airlifted to land where one was confirmed dead.
“The other two injured are receiving medical treatment on land,'' Statoil said. “The Rig is now heading ashore on its own steam, while the evacuation is completed.''
Statoil didn't say how many people were aboard the platform, which had been taken off a well in the Troll oil and gas field due to rough weather.
Troll contains about 40 per cent of Norway's offshore gas reserves and also is one of the biggest oil fields on the Norwegian continental shelf.