A welder working on a natural gas pipeline near the mouth of Tampa Bay died early Saturday morning when he fell 25 feet, hitting his head and shoulders on steel decking. The man, who worked for Stolt Offshore, was aboard a company barge used in the construction of a natural gas pipeline that will eventually extend from Mississippi to Florida.
The man was pronounced dead by a doctor who was onboard the barge. The Coast Guard, which is investigating the accident, said it appeared the man was not wearing any safety gear.