British Woman Dies in Bimini After Current Takes Two Sons
Royal Bahamas Police are investigating the death of a 36-year-old mother who was swept away while trying to rescue her children during a snorkeling trip.
By Chioma Kim ·
A 36-year-old British woman died in the Bahamas on Tuesday after a strong ocean current pulled her away from her two sons during a snorkeling excursion. The Royal Bahamas Police Service has opened a preliminary investigation into the incident, which occurred near the southern point of North Bimini. Police stated that the woman was attempting to reach her children when the water took her from the surface.
The family was in the water with the woman’s husband when the current swept both boys away. Officers reported that the mother swam toward the boys to help them but was also caught in the flow. The two children were eventually pulled from the water. The woman was recovered from the sea and brought to the North Bimini ferry dock. Medical personnel performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the dock before moving her to a local clinic for further care.
A doctor at the clinic pronounced the woman dead after efforts to revive her failed. Police arrived at the clinic shortly after 10:00 a.m. local time, following a report of an unresponsive woman at the ferry dock. The force noted that foul play is not suspected in the death. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the precise cause of death.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is monitoring the situation. A spokesperson for the department said officials are in contact with Bahamian authorities and are providing assistance to the family. The department offered its condolences to the relatives of the deceased.
North Bimini is part of a small island chain located between the large island of Andros and Miami, Florida. The area serves as the closest point in the Bahamas to the US mainland. The islands are known for their history with author Ernest Hemingway and for hosting a major shark research facility. The death brings attention to the strong currents that often affect the waters surrounding these outer islands.
The police statement did not release the names of the woman or her family members. The husband and sons were among the group in the water when the incident began. The preliminary account describes the sequence of events as a sudden shift in water movement that separated the family members. The investigation remains in its early stages as police collect statements and review medical findings.
Source: The Guardian
