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 informed authorities that she was last seen on Saturday around 19:30 local time (00:30 BST) after falling out of an 8ft (2.4m) hard-bottom dinghy, being swept out to sea by strong currents.
The couple had just left Hope Town, heading to Elbow Cay on the Bahamian island of Abaco, when the incident occurred. The woman reportedly took the boat's keys with her, making it difficult for her husband to immediately follow her to safety.
In a statement, the Royal Bahamas Police Force indicated that they are conducting an investigation and multiple agencies are involved in the search for the woman. According to Troy Pritchard, chief of Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, “She apparently bounced out of the boat,” and was subsequently swept away by the strong currents.
After the accident, the husband paddled the vessel to shore, arriving at the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at about 04:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Sunday. He informed someone there about his wife’s disappearance, leading to the notification of local authorities.
Assisting in the search are U.S. counterparts, volunteers, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
Authorities have identified the missing woman as Lynette Hooker from Michigan. The U.S. State Department had issued a travel advisory in March 2025 cautioning travelers about potentially hazardous boating conditions in the Bahamas, stating that “boating is not well regulated” and that injuries and deaths have occurred.
The couple had just left Hope Town, heading to Elbow Cay on the Bahamian island of Abaco, when the incident occurred. The woman reportedly took the boat's keys with her, making it difficult for her husband to immediately follow her to safety.
In a statement, the Royal Bahamas Police Force indicated that they are conducting an investigation and multiple agencies are involved in the search for the woman. According to Troy Pritchard, chief of Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, “She apparently bounced out of the boat,” and was subsequently swept away by the strong currents.
After the accident, the husband paddled the vessel to shore, arriving at the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at about 04:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Sunday. He informed someone there about his wife’s disappearance, leading to the notification of local authorities.
Assisting in the search are U.S. counterparts, volunteers, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
Authorities have identified the missing woman as Lynette Hooker from Michigan. The U.S. State Department had issued a travel advisory in March 2025 cautioning travelers about potentially hazardous boating conditions in the Bahamas, stating that “boating is not well regulated” and that injuries and deaths have occurred.
