Eighteen oil rig workers were rescued from the North Sea last night when the helicopter they were flying in ditched while approaching an oil rig. Workers on the rig saw the helicopter’s fuselage, then distress flares.

The passengers and crew were wearing lifejackets with lights, immersion suits and were equipped with Personal Locator Beacons.

A standby vessel from the rig in the Eastern Trough Area Project was assisted by three civilian helicopters an RAF helicopter and a Nimrod.

Picture courtesy of Equipped to Survive – www.equipped.com