Weeks before he was due to marry, Scott Tucker, son of oil and gas mogul Chris Tucker of Tucker Energy Services Ltd (TSE), died on Sunday while diving off Tobago. Tucker, 28, of Westmoorings, was diving in deep waters at Speyside and complained of feeling unwell when he surfaced. He was suspected of suffering from bends. He was rushed to the Hyperbaric Facility at Roxborough which is approximately three miles from Speyside but according to reports, the facility was closed. To further complicate the situation, the oxygen tank in the ambulance which transported Tucker was limited.
The decision was made to take him to the Scarborough Regional Hospital, approximately 17 miles away, for treatment. Eventually, Tucker's relatives were told he had to be taken back to Roxborough, since the Roxborough Walk-In Clinic housed the only hyperbaric chamber on the island. Recompression treatment was administered but Tucker succumbed to his injuries. His body was taken to the Scarborough mortuary where an autopsy was due to be performed. The Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) said a statement would be made on the incident and investigations were continuing.
An avid surfer, who enjoyed a wide range of water sports, Tucker was reportedly diving for lobsters when tragedy struck. He was due to be married on June 26 to Amanda Hadeed, a fashion model, who was featured in a Wonderful World make-up publication for Carnival, friends said. She was said to be devastated and in a state of shock over the death of her fiance. Yesterday, distraught relatives of Tucker, including his parents, Chris and Jeanette Tucker, and grandparents Glen and Sheila Tucker, remained secluded at Blue Waters Inn, Speyside, a short distance away from where the tragedy occurred.
Friends, who described Tucker as a "sweet, friendly guy," said the family was "upset over Scott's death" and were too grief-stricken to talk about the tragedy. Arrangements were being made late yesterday to return the body to Trinidad. Eight years ago, Tucker narrowly escaped death when a vehicle he was driving slammed into a lightpole and careened down the side of the Solomon Hochoy Highway in south Trinidad. He was pinned inside the mangled wreckage and fire officers had to use a hydraulic cutting device, known as the "jaws of life", to free the badly bleeding young man.
On that occasion, Tucker suffered serious internal injuries and a broken leg and was warded in critical condition at the San Fernando General Hospital. However, he eventually recovered from his injuries and resumed his active life. His love for diving and fishing were displayed in several pictures on his Facebook page. In addition to his fiancee, parents and grandparents, Tucker is survived by his sisters Kerri, Heidi and Vicki. TSE is a privately-owned multi-national oil and gas services corporation based in the Caribbean and North and South America, providing services, products and solutions to the energy industry. PC Stout, of the Scarborough CID, is continuing investigations into Tucker's death.
About bends
Bends, as it is known locally, is also called Decompression Sickness (DCS) and it occurs after a rapid decrease in pressure, normally caused by an uncontrolled or emergency ascent while diving. During deep or long dives, inert gases become absorbed into the body's tissues at higher than normal concentrations. As the diver ascends to the surface, these gases leave the solution and form "micro-bubbles" in the bloodstream which can be exhaled safely through the lungs if the ascent is slow enough. If the ascent is uncontrolled or too fast these micro-bubbles can occur within tissues and organs and can be fatal.