Fireproof, Not Blastproof: The Piper Alpha Disaster | Fascinating Horror

Comments · 1.1K

• FA

  @FascinatingHorror · 1 year ago · pinned

  There&apos;s an odd connection between this story and the collapse of the Alexander Kielland oil platform in 1980. Both rigs were attended by the same rescue vessel - the Silver Pit. Here&apos;s the story of the Alexander Kielland disaster if you&apos;d like to learn more: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZrEocLHL5Q">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZrEocLHL5Q</a>

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• TH

  @TheRealChristopherB · 3 years ago

  The thought of being so shell-shocked from the fire and from the explosion that you don&apos;t realize that the man you&apos;re trying to find rescue with is dead. &nbsp; What a brutal account to retell.

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• ZO

  @ZombieSazza · 3 years ago (edited)

  My late step-father Hamish was the medical examiner at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary when this happened, he was the guy who determined the cause of death. He didn’t talk about the Piper Alpha often, but when he did he told me it was the reason he stopped being an ME, that a lot of the bodies weren’t intact, and it left him with PTSD, horrible depression and alcoholism. Any time I visit Hazlehead Park I go to the Piper Alpha memorial, I think of Hamish. He eventually took his life at 56, it was just too much to live with.<br><br>If anyone is ever up this way visiting Aberdeen I’d recommend visiting Hazlehead, it’s a beautiful memorial.<br><br>Edit: thanks to everyone in the replies for letting me speak about Hamish, he died a decade ago but being able to speak about him has really helped in a way. I still grieve him but understand his mental suffering was just too severe, so being able to speak about our fond memories has teared me up in a good way.

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• WI

  @williamwilson6499 · 3 years ago

  I knew a survivor from this disaster, Keith Cunningham, a diver on the rig. He was working as Generator Mechanic/Dive Master for the Lady Jenny 5 working on the Red Sea when I met him.<br><br>Keith was one of the best divers I ever met and I learned a lot just watching him on a dive. His ability to move so effortlessly through the water made me copy everything he did.<br><br>When he saw the dive suit I brought with me, he said it wasn’t adequate for the Red Sea and he lent me a spare wetsuit. After a couple of dives, I realized how miserable I would have been if he hadn’t shown some kindness to a rookie diver. <br><br>He was also the most Zen person I’ve known in my 64 years on this planet. Always soft spoken, calm, and collected.<br><br>I was a Yank living in Yorkshire when the disaster happened. Had no idea I would ever know someone who had gone through it. <br><br>The only reason I knew about it was from the acting skipper of the boat…we were talking on the bridge about random stuff and I mentioned how Keith was the most calm person I ever met.<br><br>That’s when he told me that Keith was one of the survivors. I never brought it up to Keith as I figured if he wanted to talk about it he would.<br><br>He passed away a few years back. 2014 I believe. I’m glad I got to know him.

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• MR

  @mrwri · 3 years ago

  My dad was working on a nearby support vessel. He once told me about pulling people out of the water and their skin coming away. I&apos;ve never asked him about it ever again.

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• TM

  @tmahdng · 3 years ago

  Out of all FH videos, I think this is one that&apos;s shocked me the most. Especially the parts about the 6 survivors perishing in the boat and the survivor who didn&apos;t realise the fate of the person he clung onto. I&apos;m not surprised so many were affected by this afterwards.

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• YV

  @yvonnejohnson2688 · 3 years ago (edited)

  My cousin was a derrick man on this rig.. He was on holiday at the time and they flew him home and he helped cap the fires with red adair.. Said it was horrible to see.. He lost a lot of friends.. Such a tragedy

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• RE

  @Regnbuesolv · 3 years ago

  My Dad, a structural engineer, was on leave that week in Bristol with my Mum. His best friend Christopher also worked there and was on shift. He was one of the lucky people on the life boat, but clearly remembers the burning fireballs. Mum insisted Dad stop working on the platforms after this and indeed he never returned. The CEO of the company who owned Piper Alpha was a terrible person who never faced repercussions.

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• PU

  @purple16popcorn · 3 years ago

  I learned something new today (aside from this horrible tragedy) you’re not supposed to jump into the water with a life jacket.

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• RE

  @reachandler3655 · 3 years ago

  It seems incredulous that no-one thought putting a sign directly on equipment to indicate it was out of order might be a good idea.

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• JO

  @Joeyjoejoe5432 · 3 years ago

  Every time I have to lock onto multiple isolation permit stations just to get a simple job done I remember that it was incidents like this that prompted such byzantine procedures. Our safety is bought with the lives of many workers before us.

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• GI

  @gingercube688 · 3 years ago

  That was a hard line to hear, the 6 men just rescued plus the 2 rescuers died. Shit, what kind of savage luck is that

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