Inquiry after woman goes missing from boat in Bahamas

The US Coast Guard has opened a criminal investigation into the disappearance of an American woman who reportedly fell overboard from a small boat in the Bahamas while on holiday with her husband, a Coast Guard official confirmed to the BBC on Wednesday.

Lynette Hooker went missing on Saturday after falling out of an 8ft (2.4m) hard-bottom dinghy and being swept out to sea by strong currents, her husband told authorities.

The Coast Guard was not able to comment on the specifics of the investigation, including on potential suspects in the case.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force did not immediately respond to the BBC's request for comment.

In a statement shared with US media partner CBS News on Wednesday, Brian Hooker said he was "heartbroken" about his wife's disappearance and thanked authorities and volunteers for the ongoing search.

"I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused by beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas," he said.

"Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus."

Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, told CBS that her mother has been sailing for more than 10 years and is an experienced swimmer. She does not understand how she could have fallen overboard and disappeared and asked that authorities thoroughly investigate the incident.

Brian Hooker told police that he and his wife left Hope Town for Elbow Cay, in the Abaco Islands, on Saturday evening when she fell overboard, taking the boat's keys with her.

He said he then paddled the vessel to shore and made it to the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at about 04:00 local time (09:00 BST) on Sunday. He told a person there that his wife was missing. The person then informed authorities.

In a statement on social media on Tuesday, Royal Bahamas Police Force said it was investigating and multiple agencies were searching for the woman**.**