SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A U.S. tourist died in the Bahamas after a catamaran carrying more than 100 people sank while traveling to a private island, police said Wednesday.
Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told The Associated Press that the unidentified 74-year-old woman was from Broomfield, Colorado and was on a five-day vacation with her family when the catamaran sank late Tuesday morning.
Video captured a boat sinking as it headed to Blue Lagoon in the Bahamas.
The rest of the passengers and crew members were rescued. Two other unidentified people were taken to a medical facility, police said, but their conditions were not immediately known.
It wasn’t immediately clear how the 74-year-old woman died.
Becky and Matt Savage, who live in the Chicago suburbs, were on the upper deck of the boat with their two sons when they said two huge waves clobbered them.
“The first one was big and it hit us and we got sprayed and then I saw the second one and it was headed right for us, and we went up and dove down into it,” said Matt Savage.
“Passenger yelled, “Lifejackets!” and then chaos broke out,” Becky Savage said. “The lifejackets on the upper deck where we were were not right above us. They were in a bin at the front at the top of the boat so everyone just smashed towards the front.”
The family slipped into the water as the ferry lifted at about 75 degrees. Blue Lagoon Island was 100 yards away, but this was the open choppy sea and not swimmable. Rescue boats began to appear but parents everywhere grabbed for their kids. Matt caught a rope from a passing boat and helped others. Another boater rescued his family as they hugged the catamaran’s bow.
Police said in a statement that the woman was found unresponsive as they helped pull the passengers and crew members from the water. They said she was given CPR and then taken to a dock where she was declared dead.
Life vests were available, and those aboard were wearing them, according to authorities.
Police said the double-deck catamaran began taking on water after departing Paradise Island with a group of tourists headed to Blue Lagoon Island, a popular destination located just northeast of the capital of Nassau.
A video posted on social media showed some passengers yelling as the catamaran began listing on its right side, prompting tourists to slowly start jumping into the water as they swam toward nearby boats.
Police said the Royal Bahamas Defense Force also helped with the rescue, as well as nearby pleasure craft.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.
ABC7 Chicago contributed to this report