Search Underway for Missing American Woman in Bahamas

Tue Apr 07 2026 17:28:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Authorities in the Bahamas are actively searching for an American woman who reportedly fell overboard from a small boat while vacationing with her husband.

Police in the Bahamas have commenced a search for Lynette Hooker from Michigan, who went missing after falling from a dinghy into strong currents while traveling with her husband. The incident occurred in the evening after they set out from Hope Town to Elbow Cay. Despite the husband's efforts to reach land and report her absence, rescue operations are ongoing involving multiple agencies.

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 told authorities that she went missing on Saturday at about 19:30 local time (00:30 BST) after falling out of an 8ft (2.4m) hard-bottom dinghy and being swept out to sea by strong currents.

The woman's husband stated that he and his wife had left Hope Town for Elbow Cay on the Bahamian island of Abaco when she fell overboard, inadvertently taking the boat's keys with her.

In a statement released on social media, the Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed they are investigating the incident and that multiple agencies are involved in the search for the woman.

She apparently bounced out of the boat, said Troy Pritchard, chief of Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, in comments to CBS News, the BBC's US news partner.

The police noted that the strong currents carried her away quickly, and the husband lost sight of her. He reportedly paddled the vessel to shore and reached the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at around 04:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Sunday.

After reaching shore, he notified a person at the boat yard about his wife's disappearance, leading them to inform the authorities.

Assistance for the search operation is being provided by U.S. counterparts, volunteers, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

The missing woman has been identified by local authorities as Lynette Hooker from Michigan, according to CBS News.

In a March 2025 travel advisory, the U.S. State Department cautioned travelers about potentially deadly boating conditions in the Bahamas, stating that boating is not well regulated and warning that injuries and deaths have occurred.