Walter Mann: Inquest opened into North Sea oil rig worker from Dunbar

Walter Mann, 48, was working on the Noble Hans Deul drilling ship, north of Cromer, when he died.

Assistant coroner, Samantha Goward, confirmed in a statement from Mr Mann’s son, Gary Mann, that Walter Emil Henry Mann was born in Dunbar on March 5, 1973. 

He lived in Weydale, near Thurso, in northern Scotland. 

He was found “collapsed and unresponsive” by a colleague, who had known him for eight weeks, in a cabin he had been working in on January 27, 2022.

Despite attempts to resuscitate Mr Mann, he was declared dead.

Norfolk Coroner's Court (Image: Newsquest)

An inquest into his death, which opened on Wednesday at Norfolk Coroner’s Court at County Hall, heard that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was looking into the circumstances.

A post mortem gave the medical cause of death as “unascertained”. 

A report from the HSE is currently being prepared and the inquest has been adjourned to take place on July 25, 2023.