# Hull surveyor remains in Gabon weeks after escaping sinking rig

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/british-grandfather-68-who-escaped-sinking-oil-rig-with-just-the-clothes-on-his-back-is-not-allowed-to-return-home-weeks-on/
- Published: 2026-11-15T21:00:57+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T21:17:28+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16294739/British-grandfather-68-escaped-sinking-oil-rig-just-clothes-not-allowed-return-home-weeks-on.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: UK, World

## Key points

- Richard Richardson remains in Gabon weeks after the rig sank.
- His family say they have no clear answers about his return.
- Borr Drilling is investigating a suspected seabed stability failure.

## Summary

Richard Richardson, a 68-year-old surveyor from Hull, remains in Gabon more than three weeks after escaping the sinking Prospector 5 rig, and his family say he cannot return home. His daughter says he is co-operating with a judicial investigation, but the family has no clear answer about whether his travel is formally restricted or when he may leave.

Richardson escaped with only his clothes and a few euros; his family say his mental health is deteriorating and fear he could be moved somewhere less comfortable and lose contact with them. Of 115 people aboard, 110 reached shore; by 2 November, four bodies had been recovered and one person remained missing. Borr Drilling said a preliminary assessment pointed to a punch-through during seabed preload activities, and it commissioned an independent investigation.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.