PORTLAND (AP) – A South Portland man was killed Thursday in an accident aboard a tugboat that was working with Cianbro Corp. to test one of the two giant oil rigs built in Portland Harbor.

Christopher Cordeau, 29, of South Portland was helping to set an anchor for the rig when he became pinned between a large steel cable and the boat’s railing, police said.

“It was necessary for the crew to use a torch to cut the cable in order to free the injured worker,” Lt. Vern Malloch said. “And once the cable was cut, the worker fell into the ocean.”

The Coast Guard recovered the body of Cordeau, an employee of the tugboat company that was hired by Cianbro to help with the project. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Coast Guard and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were investigating the accident.

AP-ES-12-04-03 1905EST