PRESENTATION
I share my story as one of the 61 survivors of the Piper Alpha disaster — the world’s worst offshore oil tragedy.
On the night of 6th July 1988, I was working offshore when a series of catastrophic explosions tore through the platform. As the structure burned and began to collapse around us, I was faced with a decision no one should ever have to make — to stay and almost certainly die, or to jump 175 feet into the North Sea.
I chose to jump.
What followed was survival against the odds — navigating fire, smoke, and chaos, before being rescued from the water with serious burns. Out of the men who reached the helideck that night, only a handful of us made it out alive.
In my presentation, I take audiences through that night in detail — the confusion, the decisions, and the reality of what happens when systems fail.
I also speak about the aftermath: the physical recovery, the emotional impact, and the responsibility I feel to those who didn’t survive.
This is not just a story about survival — it’s about accountability, decision-making under pressure, and why safety can never be taken for granted.
For over 30 years, I’ve continued to share these experiences with organisations across the industry. My aim is simple: to ensure what happened on Piper Alpha is never forgotten, and that the lessons learned continue to protect lives today.
