HE SUFFERED only a few external injuries from the terrifying helicopter crash that left four oil workers dead. But for Paul Sharp and other survivors, the inward trauma is still haunting them to this day.
Mr Sharp has chosen to remain silent about his ordeal until now. He wanted to see those who died buried, as well as take part in a memorial service.
He believes talking about it will help him overcome some of the trauma he still feels following the crash into the North Sea in August.
"I'm still having nightmares," he said. "I've had them ever since.
"I can't remember them, but my wife tells me I'm red and sweating and shouting out and sitting up and lying back down. I can't remember, but a lot of the lads are the same."
He said although the nightmares are getting fewer and fewer, at first they would be almost every night.
"I've also been having counselling," he said. "I said to the young lads at the time, if you get offered counselling, take it straight away as it will help you."
There are certain aspects of the crash that have remained fresh in his mind.
"The impact on the water, and getting out are the main two," said Mr Sharp. "They are still fresh, they are the ones I think about.
"I think about everyone floating around in the helicopter, and getting out.
"I have flashbacks and it's unbelievable to think I was that guy in there."
None of the workers on the flight that day have returned to work on the rigs yet. Some have taken office jobs as an alternative.
But Mr Sharp, who has worked on the rigs for 23 years, says he is determined to get back on them.
"I miss my family," he said. "I have my family on shore but I have my family offshore too and I'm missing my offshore family.
"You can't say, 'I'm never getting on a helicopter again', even though I did shout that when I was in the sea."
Mr Sharp says his company, Cape Plc, has offered the chance for him to go on a test flight to see how he feels about getting on a helicopter.
"I'll do that, but I don't want to go back on the same platform," he said. "There's no other way to get out to the rigs and if it's a direct flight it's two-and-a-half hours out to it. There are nearer platforms."
Mr Sharp is hoping when he returns to work his flight out to the rig will be considerably shorter.
He also wants to see the Super Puma L1 and L2 helicopters grounded for good. He said: "They are deathtraps. I was asked a question, what are they like, and the way I describe them is it's like if you are getting married and order a top-of- the range Rolls Royce to pick you up, and the garage decides they are going to send a Lada.
"Five of these have ditched into the sea in four years. In one, all 16 died. They should be scrapped."
