The family hopes for closure Local news

Well Services said yesterday that the company had been able to identify the location of missing oil rig worker Pete Phillip.

In a statement yesterday, the company said that while the asset recovery process has caused frustration and anxiety for Phillip’s family, it shares their distress and remains fully committed to the ongoing search and recovery efforts.

“However, it is important to clarify that the current phase presents a distinct set of challenges that require a tailored approach. These include rigorous safety assessments, logistical coordination and adherence to established protocols to ensure the well-being of all involved,” Well Services said in a statement.

The company noted that in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and given the inherent risks associated with the mining operation, it was in the process of securing specialized equipment, including heavy haulage barges and crane barges, for the operation and was developing a comprehensive safety plan that would be submitted to OSHA before it took further rescue actions.

He added: “In discussions with the family we have advised that we believe we have identified the location of Mr Pete Phillip. However, to reach this point safely, it is necessary to first stabilize the platform to prevent further risks. Failure to do so will further jeopardize the safety of remaining staff.”

The company stated that while it is committed to expeditious remediation, it is necessary to secure the response team and all personnel on site, and is committed to continuing operations as quickly as these critical procedures allow.

In a December 30 release, Well Services said search and recovery operations to locate Phillip had been temporarily suspended to allow necessary and additional safety measures to be implemented for all personnel involved.

Phillip, who was employed by Well Services for more than 20 years, remains unaccounted for after the platform he was working on partially collapsed on December 22.

Since the incident, a prohibition notice has been issued to the drilling rig located in the Heritage Offshore East Field, declaring the site unsafe and restricting its use until the hazard has been removed.

The family practices patience

Phillip’s wife, Candacy Phillip, says she hopes her family will be done with the business by Jan. 17, which would have been Pete’s 46th birthday.

Candacy said that as the family patiently waits for search and rescue operations to resume, she and her children continue to struggle with difficult emotions.

In a telephone interview with The Express yesterday, Candacy said the family continues to receive daily updates from Well Services via a WhatsApp group chat.

“They (Well Services) said they would be able to give us a better explanation next week. I’m waiting to see what they say. The whole family hoped that the case would be closed before his birthday,” she said.

Candacy said that before Phillip left for work, he planned to celebrate his birthday with her and their four children, ages three to 13.

Candacy stated that although the children are back in school, they still feel the absence of their father.

“Sometimes the kids are okay, sometimes they’re not. There is sadness between them. They looked at his photo and their eyes filled with tears,” she said.

She said their two sons, aged 11 and 13, are preparing to write the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam this year.

She added that as a seven-month-old expectant mother, the situation is equally difficult for her.

“It may not feel right or sound good, but in my situation, because I’m pregnant, I try not to stress, even if it is stressful, for the sake of the baby. It’s difficult, but I have no other choice, so I try,” she said.

During a recent visit to the doctor, she was told that the baby, who is expected in late February or early March, is healthy.

For now, she said, memories of Phillip, to whom she was married for 13 years, help her get through the difficult days.

“We always went out together, even carnival, which we never missed. We played mass together. There are many memories. Sometimes we went to the park with the children and went to the beach. He was a man very devoted to his family,” she added.