North Sea oil divers sue for trauma

OSLO, Norway, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Divers who descended to depths of 1,640 feet in oil explorations in the North Sea filed suit against Norway for health and psychological issues, a report says.

Two dozen divers filed into an Oslo court saying their lives were ruined by the work in the frigid North Sea, working long hours in extreme conditions, Norway's Aftenposten newspaper said Tuesday.

Reports say the men claim to suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome, chronic pain and other related issues, saying they were "used as guinea pigs" while working in the North Sea from 1969 to 1995.

The divers said they descended as deep as 1,640 feet in the frigid waters. Limits in place currently prohibit dives deeper than 590 feet.