Surfer and deep sea diver Scott Tucker had "bad signs" of decompression sickness (DCS), also called "bends." So said manager and hyperbaric chamber operator at the Roxborough Hyperbaric Facility, Devon Peterkin, who was willing to save Tucker's life by "going against protocol." Sources said 28-year-old Tucker died from gas embolism. Peterkin could not confirm that. Gas embolism is a pathological condition caused by gas bubbles in the vascular system. It is a diving disorder suffered by compressed air divers and can happen in two ways - pulmonary barotrauma or DCS.
The symptoms of DCS may be subtle and not immediately noticeable. Air bubbles precipitate out into the bloodstream if gas dissolved in the blood at pressure and is not allowed sufficient time to gas out on ascent, the sources added. According to a family member, Tucker dived on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday he complained of feeling unwell and died at the Scarborough Hospital after receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy for three hours and 46 minutes at the facility. Peterkin, a commercial diver who trained and studied at Divers Academy in New Jersey, United States, said the facility operated Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. He said there was always a team on call to respond to emergencies.
Peterkin said: "I was contacted, via phone, about the situation and was willing to go against protocol and try to save a life, given the severity of his condition. "The procedure is normally for patients to go to the hospital and then be referred to the facility." He said the family followed procedure. Tucker, who was at Speyside, was rushed to hospital in Scarborough. The facility is along the way and is approximately 40 minutes from the hospital. Roxborough is about three miles from Speyside. Peterkin said: "He had severe decompression sickness and it would have been a miracle if he had survived."
When Tucker got to the facility he was conscious but in a state of paralysis, Peterkin said. He added Tucker's condition was so severe the hyperbaric doctor instructed he return to hospital because his vital signs had declined. Peterkin said normally a patient would get significant relief after ten minutes of being placed in the hyperbaric chamber. Tucker was due to marry fashion model Amanda Hadeed on June 26. Eight years ago he survived a vehicular accident on the Solomon Hochoy Highway.
His family has remained mum since his death. Tucker's funeral takes places tomorrow at the St Finbar's RC Church, Morne Coco Road, Diego Martin.
Family sets up fund to buy new dive chamber
Tucker's obituary states that instead of flowers, donations will be collected to set up a fund in his honour and to buy "another dive compression chamber to save lives in Tobago." Sources said the Tucker family established the facility years ago and it was operated by one of the family's companies-Tucker Marine Services. Tucker's family has a leading oil and gas corporation – Tucker Energy Services-which dates back to 1939. According to the facility's Web site, the facility was established in 1999 in response to the diving industry's need for a recompression chamber to treat people suffering from "the bends" on the island.
It added the facility was managed by private contractual mangers until it was handed over to the Marine Resources and Fisheries, Division of Agriculture, Marine Affairs and the Environment in the Tobago House of Assembly in October 2003. Contacted yesterday, Secretary of Agriculture, Marine Affairs and the Environment Hilton Sandy said he wasn't sure whether the Tucker family set up the facility but "I wouldn't doubt it." Sandy said the facility was well-maintained. He said if the family wished to purchase a chamber "we are not against them doing so."
