Two brothers who have been “left in the dark” for 42 years after losing their dad in a major oil rig disaster are joining the fight for justice for the 123 people who died.
Keith Hunter was one of five men from Cleator Moor to perish in the Alexander Kielland disaster on March 27, 1980. He was just 34-years-old.
The Alexander Kielland platform capsized in the North Sea, killing 123 of the 212 people on board. No one has been held responsible for the accident.
Keith’s sons, Wayne and Alan Hunter only discovered the true extent of what happened in the disaster three weeks ago, after meeting with members of The Kielland Network from Norway.
The group, which was set up for survivors and family members, is calling for a new inquiry to be held after 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.
Alan said meeting with the group had “opened old wounds” but had made the brothers determined to fight for justice.
He said: “We have just been left in the dark for years and years. It’s as if we have just been fobbed off by the Norwegian government. It’s brought it to light with us, them coming over here.
“It’s been a lot to take in. We’ve had to be strong minded. It’s made us more determined because of what we know now. We’ve got a fight on our hands. Let’s go for it.
“It’s not just for our dad. It’s for everybody who’s been treated how we’ve been treated.”
Wayne said: “We didn’t know half of what happened until they came over. It just opened Pandora’s box. Our dad has always been in our thoughts but we put him to rest. We had to, to move on in life.”
Wayne was only four-years-old at the time of the disaster and his memory of it is hazy but Alan recalled the moment he found out his dad had passed away.
He said: “I was 11. I remember it coming on the news. My dad’s name came on the telly. I said to my mam, is that my dad? Nobody said anything. You could tell there was something wrong.
“People would say, ‘oh your dad will be on a desert island somewhere. He’ll be alright.’ But obviously he wasn’t.
“I’d be looking about for a man with a beard and thinking, ‘is that my dad?’”
Michael Eldon, who represents Cleator Moor South on the town council, and Cleator Moor West on the shadow authority for Cumberland Council, wants to help the families get answers.
He said: “It was never mentioned growing up on Cleator Moor. It just wasn’t spoken about.
”My dad got to watch me play football. I got to go for a beer with my dad. I can’t image growing up and not knowing what happened to my dad. Someone coming from Norway and telling you that.”
A memorial stands on Cleator Moor Square to commemorate the five men from the town who died in the disaster.
Keith’s body was never recovered from the North Sea.
He grew up in Distington before moving to Cleator Moor and was a talented rugby player, who played for Whitehaven Rugby League and represented his county in the 1972 championship. He was a father to four children: Paul, Alan, Nicola and Wayne.
Alan and Wayne say that losing their dad at such a young age has impacted their lives “massively”.
Alan said: “That’s hard growing up as a young lad without a dad. You get into all kinds of trouble. We’ve both been in bother. We got a bit out of control. That’s all stemmed from this.
“We’ve come out of it alright now but we’ve been through a lot of bad stuff.”
Wayne said: “It was a defence mechanism. There was nowhere to turn.”
The family received no support from the Norwegian or British authorities. They now want answers and are fighting for the truth.
Wayne said: “We are here to change history. You just need the truth. If history is wrong and someone is telling lies, it needs changed. It’s the not knowing.
“If you just sit back and let things pass, that’s not the answer. Before you take your last breath, you want to know the truth.”
Alan said: “At least we will go to our graves with peace of mind. There’s only so long you can keep something in your mind.
“We’re not kids anymore. Let’s fight this for our dad and the rest of these families. We want answers.
“Nobody’s taken the blame. Somebody is to blame for that rig and all the safety issues.”
The Kielland Network is looking to trace survivors and bereaved families of the accident who are living in the UK.
The group is missing contact details for:
George Terence Collins, deceased
David Lawrence Elliot, deceased
John Michael Harris, deceased
John Richard Phillips, deceased
Robert Morrison, deceased (Scotland)
Thomas Prior, deceased
George Christopher Purcell, deceased
John Thomas Richardson, deceased
Michael Stuart, deceased
John Joseph Tegowski, deceased
Paul Ian Thomas, deceased
John Aird, survivor
Raymond John Beecher, survivor
John Griffin, survivor
Paul R Witter, survivor
Peter Head, survivor
Terence Lister, survivor
William Graham, survivor
People can get in touch via the Alexander Kielland - survivors & relatives Facebook page.
Cleator Moor Town Council kindly provided a room for this interview to take place.
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