Search Underway for US Woman Missing Off Bahamas Coast
A comprehensive search operation is currently underway in the Bahamas for an American woman, identified as Lynette Hooker from Michigan, who is believed to have fallen overboard from a small vessel. The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday evening, 19:30 local time (00:30 BST), near Elbow Cay on the island of Abaco.
Details of the Disappearance
According to her husband, also a US national, the couple were travelling in an 8ft (2.4m) hard-bottom dinghy from Hope Town to Elbow Cay when Mrs Hooker apparently 'bounced out' of the boat. Crucially, she is said to have taken the boat's keys with her. Strong currents subsequently swept her away, and her husband lost sight of her. He managed to paddle the vessel to shore, arriving at Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at approximately 04:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Sunday, where he reported his wife missing to a local contact, who then alerted authorities.
Multi-Agency Search Effort
The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed it is investigating the disappearance. Multiple agencies, including US counterparts, volunteers, and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, are assisting in the extensive search effort. Troy Pritchard, Chief of Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, corroborated the husband's account of the incident.
Travel Advisory Context
This incident occurs against a backdrop of a March 2025 US State Department travel advisory regarding the Bahamas, which warned of potential dangers related to boating. The advisory highlighted that "boating is not well regulated" in the islands and that "injuries and deaths have occurred", a pertinent detail given the circumstances of Mrs Hooker's disappearance.
