The Piper Alpha Oil Rig Explosion - A Desperate Leap for Survival
On 6 July 1988, the Piper Alpha oil rig exploded and collapsed, claiming the lives of 167 men. For Joe Meanen, a scaffolder on board, it was a night that would forever change his life. Having only one more day left before flying home, Meanen joined about 40 other crew members in the cinema to pass the time, unaware of the horrors that were unfolding outside.
The non-operational gas pump, missing its safety valve, ignited and caused the first explosion. The platform rocked violently, causing part of the roof of the cinema to collapse, plunging everyone into darkness. Meanen attempted to use his safety training, but when he tried to reach his designated lifeboat, it became clear that the explosion had left him with no choice.
In a split second, Meanen realized his only chance of survival was to jump 175ft off the platform into the North Sea. He threw a lifejacket over the edge and propelled himself out, landing in the water with severe burns on his arms as they flailed wildly.
The fall seemed to last an eternity, but eventually, he plunged into the depths of the sea, using the light from the flames above to guide him towards the surface. There, he found his lifejacket floating in the water, and with it, the roof of a nearby lifeboat that allowed him to stay afloat.
As Meanen looked back at the platform, now engulfed in flames, he realized that there were others who had also managed to escape. He was one of five survivors out of 14 crew members who made it to the helideck.
The Piper Alpha disaster led to 106 recommendations for changes to North Sea safety procedures. Occidental Petroleum (Caledonia) Ltd, the company operating the rig, was found guilty of inadequate maintenance and safety procedures but faced no criminal charges. The Public Inquiry into the Disaster paid out $180m in settlements to survivors and families of the dead.
For Meanen, the experience had a profound impact on his life. He adopted the belief that it's okay to show emotion and speak about one's experiences, something he initially struggled with after the disaster. He credits his physical scars as playing a role in helping him recover mentally, providing evidence of his ordeal.
Today, Meanen continues to share his story, offering advice on safety offshore. Despite struggling with initial emotions, he now looks on the positive side of things, acknowledging the luck and fortune that allowed him to survive the tragedy.
On 6 July 1988, the Piper Alpha oil rig exploded and collapsed, claiming the lives of 167 men. For Joe Meanen, a scaffolder on board, it was a night that would forever change his life. Having only one more day left before flying home, Meanen joined about 40 other crew members in the cinema to pass the time, unaware of the horrors that were unfolding outside.
The non-operational gas pump, missing its safety valve, ignited and caused the first explosion. The platform rocked violently, causing part of the roof of the cinema to collapse, plunging everyone into darkness. Meanen attempted to use his safety training, but when he tried to reach his designated lifeboat, it became clear that the explosion had left him with no choice.
In a split second, Meanen realized his only chance of survival was to jump 175ft off the platform into the North Sea. He threw a lifejacket over the edge and propelled himself out, landing in the water with severe burns on his arms as they flailed wildly.
The fall seemed to last an eternity, but eventually, he plunged into the depths of the sea, using the light from the flames above to guide him towards the surface. There, he found his lifejacket floating in the water, and with it, the roof of a nearby lifeboat that allowed him to stay afloat.
As Meanen looked back at the platform, now engulfed in flames, he realized that there were others who had also managed to escape. He was one of five survivors out of 14 crew members who made it to the helideck.
The Piper Alpha disaster led to 106 recommendations for changes to North Sea safety procedures. Occidental Petroleum (Caledonia) Ltd, the company operating the rig, was found guilty of inadequate maintenance and safety procedures but faced no criminal charges. The Public Inquiry into the Disaster paid out $180m in settlements to survivors and families of the dead.
For Meanen, the experience had a profound impact on his life. He adopted the belief that it's okay to show emotion and speak about one's experiences, something he initially struggled with after the disaster. He credits his physical scars as playing a role in helping him recover mentally, providing evidence of his ordeal.
Today, Meanen continues to share his story, offering advice on safety offshore. Despite struggling with initial emotions, he now looks on the positive side of things, acknowledging the luck and fortune that allowed him to survive the tragedy.
It's crazy how Joe Meanen just went with it and hoped for the best. Like, didn't he think about the physics of it all? The fall was supposed to last an eternity... yeah right 
it's not like he had time 2 think about how scary it would b! & yaaas let's give him props 4 talkin openly about his experience it can't b easy 2 share that kinda stuff 
. I mean, you can imagine how desperate and scared Joe Meanen must have been in that split second, realizing he had no other choice but to jump for his life. It's mind-boggling that he even made it out alive with severe burns.
. I guess you could say they got off pretty lightly considering 167 lives were lost 
. The fact that Meanen is still sharing his story and offering safety advice shows how much of an impact this tragedy had on him, both physically and mentally.
. It just goes to show that even in the darkest moments, there's always hope for survival or even redemption.
. I mean, you'd think they'd have some kinda safety plan in place, but nope, it was more like luck if anyone survived 
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. At least they gave the survivors some kind of justice with those $180m settlements.
. Sharing his story and helping others learn from it is exactly what we need more of in this world 
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167 lives lost is just heartbreaking... i can imagine how terrifying it must have been for meanen to jump into the sea with severe burns on his arms... he's an inspiration though for sharing his story and helping others learn from the mistakes of that fateful night 
explosion hits. I mean, you can't prepare for something like that. His decision to jump was a desperate one but somehow managed to stay alive... I guess 175ft is just one heck of a leap 
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. At least they paid out $180m in settlements, which helps the families of those who died or survived with severe injuries 
.
, but at the same time, I think they should have been held accountable for putting those lives at risk 
. It's just so weird how sometimes you can agree with something and then immediately disagree with yourself 
.
. Meanen's physical scars are literally life-changing, so I hope he continues to be an inspiration and stay safe out there