A joint investigation has today been launched after a man suffered fatal injuries on a gas platform in the southern North Sea.

The offshore worker was airlifted from the platform 70 miles off the Norfolk coast, where he was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. He later died from his injuries.

A spokesman for Perenco said: “Perenco can confirm that a man has died after an incident on board the Perenco 23A gas platform in the southern north sea.

“All employees on board the platform, north east of Bacton, were unhurt in the incident which took place Monday morning.

“Representatives of Perenco are currently with the family and we will be doing all we can to support them in these difficult times.

“All relevant authorities have been notified and we are working very closely with them.”

Norfolk Police have launched a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive to establish the chain of events leading up to the incident.

A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: “Norfolk Constabulary can confirm they have launched a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive following the death of a man on an offshore platform on Monday 5 December 2016. Officers were called at 12.55pm to reports that a man had been flown to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with serious injuries but sadly died later. At this stage it is being treated as an industrial incident and enquiries are underway to establish the events leading up to the man’s death’

Perenco has bases in London, Paris and Norwich and a workshop and warehouse in Great Yarmouth.

It also operates the industrial processing plant at Bacton.