by Brian Major
Last updated: 2:20 PM ET, Thu November 16, 2023
A U.S. tourist was killed Tuesday when a catamaran ferrying more than 100 passengers from Nassau, Bahamas, to a private island sank.
According
to an Associated Press report, which included video showing passengers in lifejackets jumping from the listing catamaran, an unidentified 74-year-old woman from Broomfield, Colorado, on a five-day vacation with her family was killed when the catamaran sank.
The woman was found unresponsive as they pulled passengers
and crew members from the water, according to a police statement. CPR was performed on the traveler, who
subsequently was taken to a dock where she was declared dead.
It
is not clear how the sole victim of the sinking died. All of the other passengers
and crew members were rescued, according to the report. Two other people were
transported to a medical center, although there is no word Thursday on their
condition.
The vessel was reportedly within 100 yards of Blue Lagoon, the Bahamian private island the catamaran was traveling to when it sank. Boats can be seen in the video rescuing some of the passengers; the AP report said the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and nearby pleasure craft aided in the rescue of passengers.
A
Royal Caribbean spokesperson quoted in press reports said the woman who died had
been a passenger on one of their ships and was on a shore excursion.
“We
are saddened to hear that one of our guests passed away following an accident
on a shore excursion in Nassau, Bahamas," the spokesperson said in a
statement. "Our hearts are with the families involved and our Care Team
has been activated to support them during this difficult time.”
An
investigation is ongoing, according to reports.
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