The Daily Populous Wednesday April 8th, 2026 night edition
Authored by nbcnews.com and submitted by 804Brady

An American woman was swept out to sea after she fell overboard during an evening dinghy trip with her husband off the Bahamas, police said.

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The woman, who was not identified, fell into the water as she and her husband were traveling from Hope Town to Elbow Cay on Saturday night, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement Sunday.

The woman's husband told police that she had vessel’s keys with her when she fell into the water, causing its engine to shut off. He had to paddle the 8-foot, hard-bottom boat for hours before he reached shore early Sunday, he said.

“He lost sight of her,” police said in the statement. “He then paddled the vessel to shore.”

The excursion began about 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Hope Town, with the couple setting off for Elbow Cay, police said. At some point, the woman fell overboard and was swept by a strong current, according to police.

Her husband was able to paddle to Marsh Harbour Boat Yard, where he arrived about 4 a.m. Sunday and told someone what happened, they said. That person then alerted police.

Police on the island of Abaco have launched an investigation, they said, and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and Hope Town Fire & Rescue are searching the area.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday night. The State Department is working with Bahamian authorities to provide assistance, a department spokesperson said in a statement, adding it would have no further comment for now because of "privacy and other considerations."

The Bahamas is under a U.S. State Department Level 2 travel advisory, which states that Americans should be wary in tourist centers, where theft and robbery are not uncommon, and think carefully about using watercraft there.

"Boating is not well regulated," the advisory says. "Injuries and deaths have occurred."

little_snutch on April 7th, 2026 at 12:39 UTC »

Currently in the Abacos where this occurred. Couple of things:

The guys claims that the wife fell overboard in an area that is literally flats - grassy and shallow, max depth about 20ft. There is almost no current in this area either, it’s on the leeward side of the island close to the mainland, if his account is accurate.

He also claims it took him 8 hours to row from Elbow Cay to Marsh Harbour (boat yard) - this is an insane amount of time, even if he really did row the whole way there.

Also, you’re telling me that they took a dingy to dinner and were heading back to their live aboard, but he didn’t have a phone to call for help? Even sailors that were born yesterday bring their phone everywhere, especially on a dingy in case of emergency.

Shit doesn’t add up.

Editing to add: if she fell overboard near Elbow Cay, why on gods green earth would he not just row or even swim to shore? The area he is talking about would literally have a beach running most of the island. He could’ve pull the dingy onshore and run on the beach to a house or any hotel/restaurant and get help - why would he row all the way to Marsh Harbour in the opposite direction??

mindlesslobster014 on April 7th, 2026 at 12:12 UTC »

It’s the daughter’s statement urging authorities to investigate the circumstances that sounds odd to me.

> Karli Aylesworth, the daughter of Lynette Hooker, released a statement on Monday saying, "I have been privy to very little information. My sole concern is to find out what happened to my mother and make sure a full and complete investigation is performed into her disappearance."

> ”While the Royal Bahamian police are investigating this matter, I would also appreciate any involvement of the federal, state or local authorities to look into the circumstances of this tragic situation," Aylesworth said.

*Edited with an alternate source

bungle123 on April 7th, 2026 at 11:45 UTC »

This must be a hellish situation to be in if it genuinely was an accident, because no one would ever be convinced of your innocence.