The parties, and victim, in a near fatal incident on a offshore oil rig will have to wait another week for the verdict in the case.

The worker who was almost killed wasn’t in the courtroom today, but his frustrated father was.

His son was 27 when the incident occurred almost six years ago now on the semi-submersible rig Transocean Barents in the Terra Nova oil field.

The young man is an electrician by trade but was working as a roustabout, or casual labourer on the rig operated by Transocean Canada Drilling Services.

Deck crews were moving equipment that morning in September 2019, preparing for potential hurricane-force winds.

A plan was made to hoist gear with a crane, but the hook was too low, and got caught in other equipment as it was raised, pinning the victim between it and a railing.

All work stopped as a medic and other crew rushed to help. A doctor was flown to the rig to stabilize the man, who was then transported back to hospital in St. John’s.

He would remain there for four-and-a-half months being treated for a broken spine and collarbone, and severe damage to internal organs including his pancreas, liver and colon.

Transocean was charged with failing to ensure a crane was properly operated, and allowing the crane signaler to do other work at the same time.

The company pleaded not guilty, and there was a trial, with a verdict set for this morning, but that has now been postponed until July 10th.

That did not sit well for the victim’s father, who expressed frustration with yet another delay, adding he’ll have much more to say following the verdict, next week.