An offshore worker has died after falling into the North Sea.
A massive search and rescue operation was launched yesterday after the man – who was working in Culzean field – was reported missing at 11am yesterday.
The man in question was working on the Maersk Highlander jack-up rig, operated by French oil firm Total within the gas condensate field in the East Central Graben area of the central North Sea.
His body was later found, and police confirmed his family have been informed.
Total confirmed the incident was not caused by an accident aboard the drilling rig.
A spokesman for Total said:“Following reports of a missing person from the Maersk Highlander yesterday, a subsequent search and rescue operation sadly recovered a body from the sea.
“Total is assisting Police Scotland with their investigation into the incident, which was not caused by a workplace accident.
“Our thoughts at this time are with the family and friends of the person involved.”
Culzean lies around 145 miles east of Aberdeen.
A police spokeswoman said last night: “Police Scotland can sadly confirm that the body of a man was recovered in the North Sea on Thursday, January 24 during efforts to locate a person that had been reported missing.
“Emergency services were contacted at around 11am and a subsequent search was launched led by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).”