A photograph of Lynette Hooker, who is reportedly lacking at sea. – From Lynette Hooker/Facebook
Authorities in the Bahamas have moved to a recovery operation in their search for an American woman who reportedly fell overboard throughout a ship journey along with her husband Saturday night time, native police stated.
Lynette Hooker, 55, and her husband, Brian Hooker, 58, each US nationals from Michigan, had been on a small dinghy when Lynette fell off the boat throughout turbulent climate, in accordance with Brian’s account shared by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Local authorities and the US Coast Guard scoured the bay close to the incident in search of Lynette, however have now moved to a recovery operation, in accordance with Richard Cook, fireplace staff lead with Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue.
As authorities proceed their search, Lynette’s household have referred to as for an investigation into her disappearance as they work to get extra data from native authorities.
As the search for Lynette enters its fourth day, here’s what we know.
Lynette fell off the dinghy throughout sturdy currents, husband says
On Saturday night time, the couple left Hope Town and had been headed to Elbow Cay in a small, 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy, Brian instructed the Royal Bahamas Police Force, in accordance with a information launch from the company. They had been making their means again to their yacht, “Soulmate,” Cook stated.
Lynette fell out of the boat whereas they had been on the dinghy, Brian instructed police. Cook added Brian stated she “bounced” out of the boat throughout sturdy currents and was not sporting a private flotation system.
“Strong currents subsequently carried her away,” and “he lost sight of her,” Brian instructed police. Lynette was sporting the keys, also referred to as an engine security lanyard, when she fell off the dinghy, which made the boat lose energy, so he tried to paddle to shore, in accordance with his account shared by police.
The final time Brian stated he noticed Lynette, she was swimming towards the shore, Cook stated.
Brain stated he tried to row to shore, however the winds made it tough, he added.
The dinghy drifted towards Marsh Harbour, the place it in the end was beached, and Brian “traversed through the bush till he made it to Marsh Harbour Boat yards where he made contact with the local Police,” Cook stated.
Brian arrived in the boat yard round 4 a.m. Sunday, the place he notified somebody about his lacking spouse, who was in a position to attain police, police stated.
Multiple businesses search for Lynette Hooker
Once police had been notified about Lynette’s disappearance, their company, together with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, began looking the space.
The Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue was notified at 5:12 a.m. and “searched extensively for 6 hours” however wasn’t capable of finding her, Cook stated. The US Coast Guard additionally performed a search by air, a spokesperson instructed NCS.
A photograph of Lynette Hooker, who is reportedly lacking at sea. – From Lynette Hooker/Facebook
Royal Bahamas Police Force said Tuesday that authorities are persevering with the search, which has “spanned marine, land, and aerial areas, with additional support from drone technology and professional divers.”
The US State Department instructed NCS it’s “aware of reports regarding a missing American near Elbow Cay” and is “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 below a level 2 travel advisory. “Boating is not well regulated. Injuries and deaths have occurred,” it stated in a March 2025 advisory.
Family calls for an investigation into mom’s disappearance
As authorities proceed looking for Lynette, her daughter and mom instructed NCS they’ve a number of questions about what occurred, and each have been attempting to succeed in Bahamian authorities for data.
After struggling to succeed in investigators, Darlene Hamlett, Lynette’s mom, is racing to get an emergency passport to fly to the Bahamas, and Lynette’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has employed an legal professional.
“We have many unanswered questions,” stated Hamlett. “Our family is still in shock. We are still holding on for a positive outcome to this tragedy.”
Both ladies stated they need an intensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Lynette’s disappearance.
Aylesworth stated in a press release, “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 final time she spoke along with her mom was on Friday, she instructed NCS Tuesday. She came upon about her mom’s disappearance from her step-father, Brian, who left her a voicemail, she stated. While she didn’t share many particulars of what he stated in the voicemail, Aylesworth stated he instructed her they discovered a flotation system that was thrown to her mom.
The longer Lynette is lacking, the much less optimistic she is that her mom might be discovered, Aylesworth stated.
“The more time that goes on, the more I disbelieve that she will come back alive. I don’t think that you can tread water for that long,” she stated. “But I hope maybe she’s on a little island somewhere.”
Couple has been crusing for greater than a decade, daughter says
Lynette and Brian have been married for about 25 years and have been crusing for over a decade, Aylesworth instructed NCS.
They went from a small sailboat that would solely match two folks to a greater than 50-foot sailboat, which they used to sail round Lake Michigan, she stated. Her mom and stepdad have been in the Bahamas for about a month, Aylesworth added.
The couple has documented their travels on Instagram and YouTube over the years, most lately showcasing their adventures in the Bahamas.
Lynette loves exploring and works out rather a lot, her daughter stated. She can be artful and enjoys documenting their adventures by way of video, particularly along with her 360 digital camera, Aylesworth stated.
NCS’s Diego Mendoza and Elizabeth Wolfe contributed to this report.
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