Lynette Hooker – American Missing: Please Help Search

Hope Town — Authorities in the Bahamas continue an extensive search for Lynette Hooker, a 55-year-old visitor who disappeared Saturday evening while traveling by small boat with her husband.

According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Hooker and her husband, Brian Hooker, left Hope Town around 7:30 p.m. in an 8-foot dinghy, heading toward Elbow Cay.

Brian Hooker, 58, later told investigators that during the trip his wife fell into the water while holding the boat’s keys. When she entered the water, the engine reportedly shut off, leaving him without power as a strong current began carrying her away.

Unable to restart the boat or immediately call for help, he said he attempted to paddle the small vessel through the darkness for hours. Eventually, around 4 a.m. Sunday morning, he reached Marsh Harbour Boat Yard, where he alerted someone who contacted authorities.

Since then, a large-scale search has been underway involving the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and local rescue teams. Crews have been searching surrounding waters and nearby coastline in hopes of finding Hooker.

Officials say the search has been challenging due to strong currents and the conditions present during the nighttime hours when the incident occurred.

Authorities have not ruled out any possibilities and are urging anyone who may have information about the incident to come forward.

Friends and loved ones describe Lynette Hooker as someone who loved adventure, travel, and the ocean. As the search continues, they remain hopeful that she will be found or that new information may emerge about what happened that night.