COLLEAGUES have spoken of their sadness after the death of popular nurse Tina Baxter while scuba diving in the Caribbean.

Ms Baxter, a matron at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals, passed out during a dive and returned to the surface unconscious off the north west coast of Grand Cayman Island.

Finlay Robertson, chief executive of the Lancashire Care Trust, said: "Everyone at the trust was deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and tragic death of Tina Baxter. She was a valued staff member who cared passionately about older people and worked tirelessly to improve services. She will be sadly missed."

Ms Baxter, 47, of Primet Heights, Colne, had been on holiday with her mother Sylvia Whittaker. Mrs Whittaker said her daughter was a "wonderful" person who "died doing what she loved most".

Ms Baxter, a former Nelson Grammar student, had 108 dives under her belt since taking up the hobby five years ago.

She was on a two-week cruise when the incident took place on Saturday, January 19, at 10.40am during an organised dive at West Bay. Royal Cayman Islands. Police said it appeared she had lost consciousness returning to the surface.

A post-mortem examination has taken place, but the results are not known. The police and ferry company are investigating - and Mrs Whittaker said the family was keen for answers.

Ms Baxter started her nursing career at the Airedale General Hospital aged 18 before specialising in psychiatric care.

She worked as a modern matron in the older people's service run by Lancashire Care Trust, which looks after mental health provision. She worked with patients at Burnley and Blackburn hospital sites.