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 after falling out of an 8ft hard-bottom dinghy and being swept out to sea by strong currents.
The woman's husband explained to police that the couple had left Hope Town for Elbow Cay on the Bahamian island of Abaco when she fell overboard, taking the boat's keys with her.
In an official statement, the Royal Bahamas Police Force revealed they are investigating the incident and multiple agencies, including the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, are searching for the woman.
She apparently bounced out of the boat, said Troy Pritchard, chief of the Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, to CBS News. Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her, the police added.
The husband managed to paddle the boat back to shore, reaching the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at around 04:00 local time on Sunday. He communicated to a person at the boat yard that his wife was missing, which led to authorities being alerted.
The missing woman has been identified by local authorities as Lynette Hooker from Michigan. The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed they are working alongside U.S. counterparts and volunteers in this search effort. Notably, a travel advisory from the U.S. State Department previously cautioned about potentially hazardous boating conditions in the Bahamas, mentioning that boating is not well regulated and that injuries and fatalities have occurred.
The woman's husband explained to police that the couple had left Hope Town for Elbow Cay on the Bahamian island of Abaco when she fell overboard, taking the boat's keys with her.
In an official statement, the Royal Bahamas Police Force revealed they are investigating the incident and multiple agencies, including the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, are searching for the woman.
She apparently bounced out of the boat, said Troy Pritchard, chief of the Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, to CBS News. Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and he lost sight of her, the police added.
The husband managed to paddle the boat back to shore, reaching the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at around 04:00 local time on Sunday. He communicated to a person at the boat yard that his wife was missing, which led to authorities being alerted.
The missing woman has been identified by local authorities as Lynette Hooker from Michigan. The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed they are working alongside U.S. counterparts and volunteers in this search effort. Notably, a travel advisory from the U.S. State Department previously cautioned about potentially hazardous boating conditions in the Bahamas, mentioning that boating is not well regulated and that injuries and fatalities have occurred.
