A BEREAVED son continues to fight for justice 44 years after his dad was killed in a major oil rig disaster.
Wayne Hunter, of Cleator Moor, lost his dad, Keith Hunter, in the Alexander Kielland disaster on March 27, 1980.
Keith, who was just 34-years-old, was one of six men from Cumbria to perish when The Alexander Kielland platform capsized in the North Sea. No one has been held responsible for the accident, which killed 123 of the 212 people on board.
Wayne travelled to Stavanger in Norway earlier this month ahead of the 44th anniversary of the tragedy. He met with members of The Kielland Network – a group of survivors and bereaved family members - who have called for a new inquiry to be held.
A number of flaws were highlighted with the Norwegian inquiry which was closed to the public. Claims have been made that the official investigation lacked transparency and the survivors’ accounts of the disaster 'differed considerably' from the official stance.
Wayne only discovered the true extent of what happened two years ago when members of the group visited him and his brother, Alan, in Cumbria.
He said: “It’s emotional but we keep on fighting for justice and closure. What we have found out in that time is unbelievable.
“This blanket of silence has gone on to the UK and everyone has kept quiet about a disaster of that scale.
“I’m glad that I know what I know now. You would think it would put you at peace but there’s that many questions without the answers, it just drives you forward to get the justice and closure for myself, my family and all of the families involved.”
Wayne said a lawsuit was now being prepared by The Kielland Network over the lack of follow-up for the bereaved families, which will go before the Norwegian government.
A separate lawsuit could also be filed for the bereaved families in the UK by Saunders Law – the firm which represented families affected by the Hillsborough disaster.
Wayne also now hopes to visit the site where the oil rig capsized.
He said: “I’ve made a request for them to take us out there because that would be a graveyard for us, with us not getting our dad back. I’ve made a request for the families to go out there and maybe hold a service.”
Wayne is appealing for any support for The Kielland Family UK, in particular, any trade unions which could help. Email: kiellandfamilyuk@yahoo.com
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