Couple marries after near drowning

AT a small ceremony held at the Buccoo beach yesterday, the three survivors as well as the widow of the victim of last Wednesday’s drowning incident at Buccoo, payed homage to the men who rescued them from the jaws of death. Survivors Mark Lancaster and now married Steven and Debra Goard, the two who tied the knot the day after the tragedy, made a monetary contribution to their heroes while Lorraine Brookes, the widow of Nicholas Brookes, donated his 22-foot pirogue to them through the THA Tourism Department. The pirogue TFT 1535, now named “Nickyman Rescue,” was the one that they were in on the day of the tragedy.

Sixty-one year-old Brookes lost his life when a wave capsized the boat in the area known as “Burial Ground” just off Buccoo point. His three associates were rescued by three off-duty lifeguards with the assistance of several other persons. The London citizen and his wife, Lorraine had moved to Tobago last September and were residing at Black Rock. A grief stricken Lorraine said that her husband was a strong man who lived a full life to the end and that she was encouraged by the fact that “Nicky” had tried to save the lives of his friends by “pushing them back to that boat between every wave” before he died.

“Nicky would have been proud that I donated the boat to the guys. Even if it saves just one life, it would be worth it.” She said. Lorraine, who indicated that she will continue to reside in Tobago, is now making preparations for her husband’s funeral service at Buccoo on Thursday which is also her birthday. Incidentally, shortly after the ceremony, the same lifeguards (using a borrowed pirogue), had to rush to the rescue of a couple who also found themselves in difficulty just a few metres from where the first incident had occurred. Heavy winds were said to have caused their sailing boat to topple over. No one was hurt but they were said to be badly shaken.