Authorities in the Bahamas are investigating after an American woman reportedly fell overboard whereas on a night boat journey together with her husband and went lacking at sea, police stated.
The couple had left a resort on the island of Elbow Cay Saturday night time in a small 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy once they hit poor climate and the woman fell overboard, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.
Lynette Hooker, 55, of Onsted, Michigan, and her husband, Brian Hooker, 58, each US nationals, have been heading again to their yacht, “Soulmate,” when she bounced out of the boat, in accordance to Richard Cook, Fire crew lead with Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue.
According to police, Brian Hooker advised them “strong currents subsequently carried her away,” and “he lost sight of her.”
Hooker advised officials that he final noticed his spouse swimming in direction of the shore.
When she fell overboard, Hooker stated she had the engine security lanyard and it went over together with her.
Without the important thing, the boat misplaced energy shortly after and Hooker had to paddle the boat to shore, police stated.
Hooker drifted 4 miles in direction of Marsh Harbour, Abaco. “Mr. Hooker then tried to row but the winds were 18-22 kts and (he) could not make headway,” Cook stated.
When he reached land, he beached the dinghy and made his method via the bush to the Marsh Harbour Boat Yards and referred to as police, Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue stated.
Police on the island of Abaco, together with members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and native fireplace and rescue groups, launched a search operation in the encircling waters.
The groups searched for six hours on Sunday, with no outcomes, in accordance to the fireplace and rescue division.
The US Coast Guard later performed a search by air, a spokesperson advised NCS.
Search and rescue groups have now moved to a recovery operation, in accordance to Cook.
In an announcement, Karli Aylesworth, Lynette Hooker’s daughter stated, “I have been privy to very little information. My sole concern is to find out what happened to my mother and make sure a full and complete investigation is performed into her disappearance.”
The US State Department advised NCS they have been “aware of reports regarding a missing American near Elbow Cay” and “are working with Bahamian authorities to provide assistance,” an company spokesperson stated.
The State Department advises vacationers to train elevated warning in the Bahamas, which is listed underneath a degree 2 travel advisory. “Boating is not well regulated. Injuries and deaths have occurred,” it stated in the March 2025 advisory.
Authorities are urging anybody with data that would help the investigation to come ahead.