The disappearance of oil worker Christopher McGonigle (35) sparked a dramatic 48-hour search after he was believed to have fallen overboard from the DSNS Pelican 140 miles from land.

The parents of Mr McGonigle, who had not been seen since Saturday on the DSNS Pelican, east of Aberdeen, were today planning to travel to Scotland to see their son after he was found onboard following two days of intensive searches.

Strabane man, Mr McGonigle, who works for Subsea 7 as a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operator on the 308ft boat, was discovered in a store room suffering from a broken leg, hypothermia and back injuries.

Police are now probing the circumstances behind the weekend incident.

The boat had been at sea for six days carrying out a series of dive support services in the North Sea.

He was eventually found on board the boat by a fellow crew member around 10pm last night, in what is considered a normally inaccessible space above a roof panel.

Mr McGonigle, one of seven children, was transferred from the boat by helicopter to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Today, brother Brendan said that having Christopher back was like " winning the lotto".

Speaking from the McGonigle home at Woodend Road, Strabane, the family member said: "We are planning to travel to Scotland later today, but everything is up in the air at the minute.

"We are planning to bring him back for Christmas. It is the best Christmas present we could have hoped for, it feels like winning the lotto, we are delighted."

And, mother Clare, added: "I was preparing to go over there and put a rose in the water because I thought he was coming back to me in a box but when we heard the news last night it was pure jubilation.

"I had to be sedated last night to get me through it but now we are going over there to see him and bring him home. I couldn't believe it myself until I spoke to him on the phone last night."

Father John O'Doherty, a family friend added: "The last time I spoke to the media, the family had assumed Christopher was dead.

"Now the situation has changed completely. The family are understandably delighted and elated.

"Their priority is to get him home for Christmas, and after the weekend they've had, that will be beyond their wildest dreams."

A spokeswoman for Subsea said today that Mr McGonigle was thought to be conscious when found.

"He was located by a fellow crew member at about 10.20pm on Sunday," she said.

The spokeswoman said that Mr McGonigle had access to food and water, and had sustained non life-threatening injuries to his leg and back.

Robin Davies, Subsea 7's North Sea Vice President, said: "We will now try and establish the reasons behind his disappearance."