Through the Flames is a raw, deeply human memoir charting one man’s extraordinary journey through childhood upheaval, unimaginable loss, and the long road toward purpose in the aftermath of the Piper Alpha disaster.
Growing up between fractured homes in Surrey and Scotland, young Shane learns resilience early as he navigates instability, bullying, and the emotional complexity of a blended family. His father, David—a charismatic mechanic, rally driver, and compassionate mentor—becomes the defining influence in his life. Their bond, forged in oil‑stained garages and on windswept rally tracks, becomes a source of joy, identity, and grounding.
At eighteen, Shane leaves home to join the British Army, unaware that only days later the Piper Alpha platform—where his father is working—will explode in the deadliest offshore oil & gas disaster in world history. The shattering loss sends him tumbling into years of unresolved trauma, substance misuse, a military prison sentence, and a desperate search for somewhere to belong.
But Through the Flames is also a story of rebuilding.
Through music, travel, fatherhood, and eventually the offshore oil & gas industry itself, Shane slowly reframes his grief into purpose—becoming a safety advocate determined to honour the legacy of the man he lost. His global offshore career takes him from the North Sea to Dubai, Singapore, Australia, Africa, and deep into the complex world of industrial risk, culture, leadership, and human behaviour.
Ultimately, this is a memoir about survival, dignity, and what it means to turn the deepest personal tragedy into a force for change. It is both a tribute to 167 men who never came home from Piper Alpha and a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is a way forward.