Captains Nunez and Jerry Crawford were aboard Dolphin Towing Company’s Dumar V on September 12, returning from a rig move, when a helicopter owned by American Helicopters of Angleton, Texas fell into the Gulf, a quarter of a mile off the vessel’s bow. When the helicopter, hit the water, floats inflated, and the two occupants scrambled into the water. The Dumar V, a 150-ft. offshore tugboat, pulled alongside within a few moments, and members of the boat’s crew threw life rings to the two people in the water. There were no injuries reported.
The helicopter was on its way from Amelia, La., to an offshore production platform, which was only about one mile away. The Dumar V had just complete a rig relocation assignment and was on its way back to home port in Port Fouchon, La.