A petition demanding “safe helicopters for our oil workers” has been launched in wake of the latest North Sea crash.
Amanda Darling, a student nurse living in Stornoway decided to start the petition, which has already gathered more than 70 signatures.
The 48-year-old mum said: “I knew Gary McCrossan, although I hadn’t seen him for 20 years.
“My daughter was at the same school as his so I was very upset to hear the news.
“Everyone in the Highlands has a connection to the oil industry – it is one of the biggest employers in the area.
“One of my friends who works offshore once said to me that every time he goes on one of those helicopters, he has to overcome complete fear.
“I laughed thinking it would be exciting to go on a helicopter.
“But he said they were terrified, rigid, scared for their lives.”
The petition describes the safety of helicopters delivering workers to North Sea oil platforms as “appalling”.
Yesterday, Mrs Darling said: “Why are we using something that has got a track record of tragedy and disaster when we could choose something else?”
Another online campaign calling for the Super Puma fleet to be “destroyed” has gained more than 31,000 supporters.
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