A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday near Blue Lagoon Island in the Bahamas, where a double-decker tour boat sank due to large waves. Sadly, a 75-year-old woman from Colorado lost her life in the incident, while two others were hospitalized, as reported by Fox News.
A video posted on TikTok by Kelly Schissel captured the terrifying moment when the boat started to sink. In the video, Schissel can be heard saying, “Our boat is sinking… so that’s fun.” The footage, which has since gone viral on various social media platforms, shows passengers wearing life vests panicking and jumping into the water as the boat tilted to one side.
According to Schissel, the ferry was approaching the island but was still some distance away from the shore. She believed that the captain was trying to add a playful touch by swiftly turning the boat’s end while maneuvering into the Blue Lagoon area. However, suddenly, water started entering the boat, causing panic among the passengers.
Schissel mentioned that many passengers, including herself, were waiting for instructions from the tour boat staff on what to do in such a situation. However, no guidance was provided as the staff seemed overwhelmed with their own panic.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force received a distress call about the sinking double-deck catamaran shortly before 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The catamaran was carrying tourists from Paradise Island to Blue Lagoon Island, a popular private island and tourist destination, as reported by NBC.
In response to the distress call, units from the Police Marine Support and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force quickly arrived at the scene and assisted in rescuing the passengers and crew members from the sinking vessel, according to an official statement.
A statement from Blue Lagoon Island revealed that the passengers on board the ferry were from a cruise ship. The statement further stated that all passengers and five staff members were safely brought to the island, with two passengers requiring additional care at the hospital.
The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the risks involved in maritime activities and the importance of proper safety measures and trained staff on board.
