An American woman has gone missing in the Bahamas after falling overboard from a dinghy during a trip with her husband, police have said.
The couple were travelling from Hope Town to Elbow Cay on Saturday evening when the woman fell into the water, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Her husband told police that she had been holding the keys to the eight-foot vessel when she fell, causing the engine to cut out.
He lost sight of her and was forced to paddle to shore, arriving at Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at around 4 a.m. on Sunday. He then informed someone of the incident, who alerted the authorities.
Police said strong currents swept the woman out to sea. A search operation has been launched by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and Hope Town Fire & Rescue, with an investigation under way.
The U.S. State Department lists the Bahamas as a level 2 advisory, warning of poorly regulated boating and safety concerns. Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in the country.
