Police in the Bahamas are searching for an American woman who disappeared after reportedly falling overboard from a small boat while vacationing with her husband. Her husband told authorities that she went missing on Saturday at about 19:30 local time (00:30 BST) after falling out of an 8ft (2.4m) hard-bottom dinghy and being swept out to sea by strong currents.
The woman's husband said they left Hope Town for Elbow Cay on the Bahamian island of Abaco when she fell overboard, taking the boat's keys with her. In a statement on social media, the Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed the investigation and noted that multiple agencies are searching for the woman.
She apparently bounced out of the boat, Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue chief Troy Pritchard told CBS News, the BBC's US news partner. Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her, the Royal Bahamas Police said.
The husband, also a US national, paddled the vessel to shore and reached the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at about 04:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Sunday. He informed a person at the boat yard of his wife's disappearance, who then alerted the authorities.
Assistance in the search operation is being provided by U.S. counterparts, volunteers, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, as stated by the police. The missing woman, identified as Lynette Hooker from Michigan, is the subject of intense search efforts following a previous U.S. State Department advisory warning of potential boating dangers in the Bahamas due to insufficient regulation, which can lead to injuries and fatalities.
The woman's husband said they left Hope Town for Elbow Cay on the Bahamian island of Abaco when she fell overboard, taking the boat's keys with her. In a statement on social media, the Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed the investigation and noted that multiple agencies are searching for the woman.
She apparently bounced out of the boat, Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue chief Troy Pritchard told CBS News, the BBC's US news partner. Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her, the Royal Bahamas Police said.
The husband, also a US national, paddled the vessel to shore and reached the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at about 04:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Sunday. He informed a person at the boat yard of his wife's disappearance, who then alerted the authorities.
Assistance in the search operation is being provided by U.S. counterparts, volunteers, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, as stated by the police. The missing woman, identified as Lynette Hooker from Michigan, is the subject of intense search efforts following a previous U.S. State Department advisory warning of potential boating dangers in the Bahamas due to insufficient regulation, which can lead to injuries and fatalities.
