Police say they’re trying to find an American lady who disappeared Saturday within the Bahamas. The lady’s husband instructed authorities that his spouse went lacking after falling from their boat and being swept out to sea.
The lacking lady was recognized Monday as Lynette Hooker from Michigan, in keeping with Hope City Volunteer Fireplace and Rescue. Her husband, Brian Hooker, reported that he and his spouse, who’re each U.S. nationals, left Hope City for Elbow Cay on the Bahamian island of Abaco at round 7:30 p.m. native time on Saturday, in keeping with the Royal Bahamas Police Drive. They’d set sail aboard an 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy, police mentioned.
“She apparently bounced out of the boat,” Hope City Volunteer Fireplace and Rescue chief Troy Pritchard instructed CBS Information on Monday.
Brian Hooker instructed police that his spouse fell overboard with the keys to the boat, inflicting its engine to show off. He mentioned that sturdy currents carried her out to sea, and he overlooked her, in keeping with police. Brian Hooker paddled the dinghy to shore, arriving hours later on the Marsh Harbor Boat Yard at 4 a.m. Sunday morning.
Lynette Hooker was carrying a black bathing go well with on the time, officers mentioned. The search and rescue efforts continued Monday.
“They have been out once more right now,” Pritchard instructed CBS Information. “We nonetheless have not discovered something.”
Karli Aylesworth, Lynette Hooker’s daughter, mentioned she has “been aware about little or no info” about her mom’s case and referred to as for “an intensive assessment of the details and circumstances” surrounding it.
“My sole concern is to search out out what occurred to my mom and ensure a full and full investigation is carried out into her disappearance,” Aylesworth instructed CBS Information.
“There have been prior points delivered to my consideration, which can be essential for any thorough investigation,” she mentioned. “If this actually was an accident, I can perceive and dwell with it. Nevertheless, there must be an intensive assessment of the details and circumstances of this tragic incident earlier than that may be decided.”
Aylesworth instructed CBS Information that Brian and Lynette Hooker had cut up up and gotten again collectively lately. Brian Hooker declined to reply questions concerning the investigation when approached by CBS Information on Tuesday however has since addressed his spouse’s disappearance in a social media assertion.
“I’m heartbroken over the latest boat accident in unpredictable seas and excessive winds that induced my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy close to Elbow Cay within the Bahamas,” he mentioned. “Regardless of determined makes an attempt to succeed in her, the winds and currents drove us additional aside. We proceed to seek for her and that’s my sole focus.”
He additionally thanked authorities and volunteers concerned within the search and rescue effort.
Police mentioned Brian Hooker instructed somebody his spouse was lacking as soon as he made it to the boat yard, and that individual knowledgeable authorities. Officers proceeded to go looking the encircling space, with assist from members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Drive and Hope City fireplace officers.
“U.S. counterparts, volunteers, the Royal Bahamas Police Drive and the Royal Bahamas Defence Drive are aiding with this,” the Royal Bahamas Police Drive instructed CBS Information in an announcement. The U.S. Coast Guard Miami Sector additionally offered air help to Bahamian authorities of their search Sunday.
Police have requested folks locally who might have info related to the probe to report what they know to legislation enforcement, or submit nameless ideas by way of Crime Stoppers.
The U.S. State Division warned of probably lethal boating points within the Bahamas in a journey advisory issued in March 2025, which mentioned “boating shouldn’t be nicely regulated” on the islands, and “accidents and deaths have occurred.” The advisory additionally warned that watercraft, like jet skis, might come from unlicensed operators who “typically ignore climate forecasts.” It inspired vacationers to “at all times observe native climate and marine alerts.”
