U.S. Tourist Dies After Snorkelling Incident Off Abaco
MARSH HARBOUR, Bahamas - A 64-year-old United States citizen has died after being caught in a strong current while snorkelling in waters off Sandy Cay, Abaco, police confirmed Monday.
Hope Town Fire Rescue alerted officers in Hope Town shortly after 12:30 p.m. that an unresponsive man had been found in the water and was being transported to Marsh Harbour for medical attention. Officers later located the man aboard a white-and-blue 19-foot vessel at the Crossing Ferry Dock in Marsh Harbour. He was transferred to the Marsh Harbour Healthcare Centre, where he was pronounced dead at 3:10 p.m.
Initial investigations indicate the man had been snorkelling with his wife and another couple when a strong current swept him away from the group, carrying him in the opposite direction and causing the others to lose sight of him. The remaining individuals were assisted onto the vessel shortly afterward. The man was subsequently found unresponsive in the water and recovered by persons aboard the vessel before being transported for treatment.
Police say foul play is not suspected at this stage. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. Investigations are continuing.
The incident highlights the risks associated with ocean currents in Bahamian waters, particularly for visitors engaging in water-based activities. The Bahamas is heavily dependent on tourism as a pillar of its economy, and incidents involving foreign nationals in its waters draw attention to safety conditions at popular snorkelling and diving sites. Sandy Cay, situated in the Abaco island chain, is among the destinations that attract visitors seeking access to the archipelago's clear, shallow reef environments.
Hope Town Fire Rescue and Police were first on the scene and coordinated the response across the water and land route from Hope Town to the Crossing Ferry Dock in Marsh Harbour. The involvement of both agencies underscores the logistical demands of emergency response across Abaco's scattered cays and settlements, where maritime transport is often a necessary component of reaching medical care.
The Marsh Harbour Healthcare Centre received the patient and was the site where the death was officially confirmed. Details about the victim's identity have not been released by Police at this stage, and next-of-kin notification procedures remain underway.
The death adds to a pattern of water-related fatalities in the Bahamas that authorities and tourism stakeholders monitor closely. The Bahamian economy registered GDP growth of 3.4 percent in 2024 according to World Bank data, with tourism and offshore banking serving as its foundational sectors. Any sustained concerns about visitor safety in key destinations such as Abaco carry weight for an economy in which export revenues represent 37.8 percent of GDP.
No charges have been filed, and Police have indicated that the investigation remains open pending autopsy results
