The family of a Scots oil worker accused of battering his colleague to death on a Qatar oil rig have told of their shock. Scott Forrest, 43, is alleged to have attacked his room-mate with a breathing apparatus tank in a horror incident.

Forrest is now being held by the authorities in the Middle East. Earlier tonight, a relative of Forrest’s said: “We’re shocked. We’ve not had any contact with Scott at all since it happened.”

Scott, from Maud in Aberdeenshire, worked all over the world in the oil industry as he carried out underwater inspections of equipment. His Linkedin page reveals he went to Aberdeen and Banff and Buchan colleges.

Forrest is accused of bludgeoning his co-worker and then attempting to hide the body. It’s claimed he then attacked another colleague, Scot Chris Begley, when he stumbled across the scene.

Begley’s dad told the Record earlier this week he was shocked by the “unprovoked” attack. A massive probe has been launched to try and piece together exactly what happened.

All three men involved in the horror incident were contractors for Film-Ocean, based in Ellon, Aberdeenshire. Rig workers have taken to social media to condemn conditions on board the Seafox Burj rig in the wake of the tragedy in the early hours of Monday morning.

The cabin where the incident took place

One worker said: “They’re all two-man or four-man cabins on the Seafox. All lads in the cabins are typically all on the same shift. The place is an absolute s***hole, food is s***e and so are any facilities. Oh yeah and let’s not forget it’s riddled with bed bugs.”

He added: “Nobody ever knows what their cabin mate is dealing with in his private life hence (in my opinion) the need to have split cabins for nights/days so everybody can have some privacy and ‘me’ time.”

Other workers spoke of serious problems in the oil industry, particularly in the Middle East, which can lead employees to “crack up”.

One said: “The length of trips offshore has been steadily increasing. especially after Covid. Especially in the Middle East, where facilities are often minimal. Mental/emotional issues are the result. It’s surprising this hasn’t happened more often. Offshore companies take note.”

Another said: “After working offshore for many years, I can honestly say that health and safety is a front put across by management with no sincerity or intent.” A third posted: “The shifts on board in the Gulf are too long. Companies should keep personnel offshore four weeks maximum.”

A fellow worker wrote: “Nothing will be learned from it. Still be long trips, shared cabins. Don’t care what anybody says, sharing cabins for weeks at a time, with strangers or even fellow workmates, has its toll.” Another said: “I had to deal with a few incidents offshore where guys crack up. It can happen.”

Others said the shocking incident remained highly unusual in the industry. One said: “Usually discipline is very tight offshore and codes of conduct are well observed. But it just goes to show, it can happen any time, anywhere if circumstances allow.

“In many years working offshore in the industry, I have only ever known of a handful of occasions where tempers frayed to the point of blows being struck. This is the first I have heard of a death resulting from an incident in 40 years exposure to the offshore environment.”

Another posted: “Worked offshore for 30 years. Shared rooms/cabins with lots of strangers. Thankfully never seen/heard anything like this.”