Swedish man dies after jumping 600 metres from helicopter

OSLO - Agence France-Presse

A Swedish man died after he jumped from a helicopter above the North Sea while being taken to hospital in Norway, police said on Thursday.
      
The 37-year-old man, who fell from 600 metres (2,000 feet) on Wednesday morning, is believed to have committed suicide, according to sources close to the investigation.
     
"During the flight the man climbed out of the helicopter's emergency exit," said Thomas Soerensen at the Sotra, Askoey and Oeygarden police station.        

"He fell into the sea, 600 metres below, and we believe he died immediately."       

The man was working on Statoil's Troll A platform -- located 65 kilometres off the west coast of Norway -- when he fell ill and was being taken to a hospital in the western city of Bergen.
      
Police said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.         Sources close to the investigation told AFP that the deceased had been suffering from psychological problems.
      
He was working for Kaefer Energy, a subcontractor of Statoil.
      
The Sotra, Askoey and Oeygarden police station is located on Askoey Island, a small island outside of Bergen.