7 News Belize

Three Years Later: A Judgement For Abigail Brinkman’s Estate
posted (October 8, 2010)
And while the convolutions of all that litigation would send even a law student scrambling for their notebook - another case coming down from the Supreme Court is more straightforward.

It involves Abigail Brinkman. You may not remember her name, but she is the 28 year old American Doctor who tragically drowned in Belizean waters in one of the worst dive boat mishaps on record.

It happened in October of 2005. Owner of Advanced Diving of Placencia, Vance Cabral and dive master, Mark Tucker left the peninsula on board 'Advance 1' with a twelve member team of scuba divers and snorkelers enroute to Silk Caye. But before arriving at their destination the engine failed.

They got to Silk Caye where the snorkelers remained but the divers moved on to White Hole. Before reaching, again the boat experienced engine problems. It didn't start and the divers tried to swim for safety to a nearby island. Tucker made it to Glovers Reef the following day, while the other three divers were lost at sea for two and a half days before being rescued. Brinkman didn't make it; she drowned before the rescue boat found them.

As a result, her estate filed a wrongful death suit against Advanced Diving in October of 2006. Last week Justice Oswell Legall ruled in favour of Attolene Crawford Lennan, Brinkman's administrator. Justice Legall found that Cabral and Tucker were guilty of negligence and ordered a total ward of ninety thousand dollars to Brinkman's parents - who are in their 60's.

Brinkman's parents said that any monies received through this case will be given to the Hillside Health Care International Centre where their daughter was doing her research.

At the time of her death, Abigail Brinkman who held a masters degree was in Belize doing research on tropical medicine in Punta Gorda Town. Brinkman, who was said to be a strong swimmer, earned her "Dr" title posthumously.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize