A 36-year-old British woman has died in the Bahamas following a tragic incident during a family snorkelling trip. The incident occurred on Tuesday near the southern point of North Bimini, an island group located between Andros and the Florida coast.
The Royal Bahamas police force reported that the woman had been snorkelling with her husband and their two sons when a powerful current swept the children away. In an immediate effort to save her boys, the mother entered the water but was also pulled away by the current.
Authorities confirmed that the two children were successfully rescued from the water.
Emergency responders were alerted to the situation shortly after 10 a.m. when police at the Alice Town station were informed that an unresponsive woman had been brought to the North Bimini ferry dock. According to official reports, the woman was transported to a local clinic for urgent medical care, but despite efforts to save her, a local doctor declared her dead.
CPR was reportedly administered to the woman at the ferry dock following her rescue. The Royal Bahamas police force has since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, though they stated that foul play is not currently suspected. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the precise cause of death. The statement said, an autopsy would be carried out to help determine the exact cause of death.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office expressed condolences to the family, stating that officials are in contact with local authorities in the Bahamas and are providing the necessary consular support. The family remains the primary focus of support during this time.
Bimini, often noted for its historical connections to Ernest Hemingway and its proximity to world-leading shark research facilities, serves as the closest Bahamian landmass to the United States mainland. The investigation remains ongoing as police compile their final report.
