Bimini Snorkeling: 36-Year-Old British Woman Dies

A 36-year-old British woman died in the Bahamas on Tuesday after a strong current separated her from her two sons during a snorkeling excursion.

The incident occurred shortly after 10:00 a.m. near the southern point of North Bimini. Police reported that the woman was swimming with her husband and their two children when the current carried the boys away. While attempting to reach them, the current also pulled the woman from the group. The sons were subsequently rescued from the water.

Officers at the Alice Town police station were notified of the incident and responded to the North Bimini ferry dock. They found that the woman had already been transported to a local clinic for medical care. A doctor at the facility pronounced her dead, despite attempts to revive her. Police stated that CPR was administered at the ferry dock after she was pulled from the water.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force opened an investigation into the death. A statement from the force indicated that foul play is not suspected at this time. Authorities confirmed that an autopsy will be performed to determine the precise cause of death.

The woman’s husband was present at the scene with the two boys, who were not identified in the initial police report. The family was engaging in a leisure activity in the shallow waters off the island's southern tip.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is aware of the case. A spokesperson stated that officials are in contact with local authorities and providing support to the family. The office noted that its thoughts are with the bereaved.

North Bimini is the closest point in the Bahamas to the US mainland, situated between the island of Andros and Miami. The island group is also known for hosting a shark research center and for its historical association with the writer Ernest Hemingway.