A senior executive from a major Dubai-based energy logistics company has died in a tragic scuba diving accident while on holiday in Bali.
The Fatal Dive Off Tulamben Coast
Nathan John Scott, a 50-year-old Australian, was diving off Segara Beach in Tulamben on Bali's east coast around 11.30am on Tuesday. The experienced diver was just one month away from his 51st birthday.
According to witness accounts from a nearby South African diver, Mr Scott appeared to be in a state of panic at a depth of approximately 15 metres and about 150 metres from the shore. The witness stated that Mr Scott removed his diving regulator before attempting to swim rapidly towards the surface, an action experts say can trigger a severe panic attack.
Desperate Rescue Attempt Fails
The alert South African diver immediately swam to Mr Scott's aid. Once they reached the surface, he began shouting for help. A local fisherman in a boat nearby rushed to assist, but reported that Mr Scott was already unconscious by the time he reached them.
The two bystanders managed to get Mr Scott into the fishing boat and rushed him to shore. Despite their efforts and the subsequent arrival of paramedics, he could not be revived.
Kubu Police chief, I Nyoman Sukarma, confirmed that police are investigating the incident. "Based on witnesses, the victim had a panic attack while diving and suddenly removed his diving regulator," Mr Sukarma said. A diving regulator is a critical piece of equipment that reduces high-pressure gas from an oxygen tank into breathable air. Its sudden removal underwater can lead to hyperventilation, water inhalation, and ultimately drowning.
Prominent Career Cut Short
Mr Scott was a senior figure at the Tristar Group, a fully integrated energy logistics business serving the global oil and gas industry. He held the position of Group Head of Systems and Projects at the company, which was founded in 1998 and operates in more than 30 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, and Europe.
Based in Dubai, Mr Scott had over two decades of experience in IT management across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He had also earned a Diploma in Project Management from George Washington University in 2008. At the time of the accident, he was staying at the Teratai Boutique Resort in the nearby area of Amed.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment regarding the death of the Australian national.
