Crews Search Gulf For Missing Offshore Welder

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast between Lake Charles and Baton Rouge for a missing welder from the Philippines after an accident on a rig Sunday night south of Freshwater Bayou.

Petty Officer Carlos Vega tells the Associated Press 38-year-old Peter Voces was knocked overboard when an empty "tank barrel" used for oil fell on him Sunday evening. Vega says Voces was working for Offshore Specialty Fabricators of Houma.

Several vessels are searching the waters of the Gulf of Mexico searching for Voces including two Coast Guard cutters, two airplanes and two helicopters. Additionally, Vega says six offshore supply vessels are searching for him.