An American girl is lacking within the Bahamas after she reportedly went overboard whereas touring on a dinghy and robust currents carried her out to sea, in line with police.
The girl and her husband had departed Hope City on the Abaco Islands for Elbow Cay round 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, in line with the Royal Bahamas Police Drive.
They had been en path to their yacht — dubbed the “Soulmate” — when, her husband mentioned, the girl fell overboard as a consequence of poor climate, Hope City Volunteer Hearth & Rescue Assistant Chief Stafford Patterson mentioned.
A nonetheless from video of the seek for a lacking American girl who reportedly went overboard off the Abaco Islands within the Bahamas, April 5, 2026.
Abaco Asian Market
“Robust currents subsequently carried her away, and he overlooked her,” the Royal Bahamas Police Drive mentioned in a press launch.
Patterson recognized the lacking girl as 55-year-old Lynette Hooker, of Onsted, Michigan. It’s unknown if she had a life jacket on, he mentioned.
Brian and Lynette Hooker in a photograph posted to their social media.
the_sailing_hookers/Instagram
She was holding the boat key when she went overboard, inflicting the 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy’s engine to close off, police famous.
Her husband, 58-year-old Brian Hooker, subsequently paddled the boat to a marina, arriving at round 4 a.m. Sunday, in line with Patterson. He reported his spouse overboard to a person who then alerted police, the Royal Bahamas Police Drive mentioned.
A search and rescue mission involving Bahamian and U.S. authorities and volunteers is ongoing, the Royal Bahamas Police Drive mentioned Monday. The U.S. Coast Guard launched an plane to assist the search and rescue, Patterson mentioned.
Karli Aylesworth, the daughter of Lynette Hooker, launched an announcement on Monday saying, “I’ve been aware of little or no data. My sole concern is to seek out out what occurred to my mom and ensure a full and full investigation is carried out into her disappearance.”
“Whereas the Royal Bahamian police are investigating this matter, I might additionally recognize any involvement of the federal, state or native authorities to look into the circumstances of this tragic scenario,” Aylesworth mentioned.
Brian and Lynette Hooker in a photograph posted to their social media.
the_sailing_hookers/Instagram
The U.S. State Division is “conscious of stories relating to a lacking American close to Elbow Cay” and is “working with Bahamian authorities to offer help,” a spokesperson for the company mentioned Monday.
The State Division beforehand warned of probably lethal boating risks within the Bahamas. A travel advisory issued in March 2025 states that “boating isn’t nicely regulated” on the islands, and “accidents and deaths have occurred.”
ABC Information’ Mariam Khan and Rachel DeLima contributed to this report.
