An 88-year-old American woman has died after driving a motorized scooter off a pier at a private cruise destination in the Bahamas, authorities and the cruise line confirmed.
The incident occurred on May 9 at Celebration Key in Grand Bahama while the Carnival Celebration ship was in port, according to a statement from Carnival Cruise Line provided to numerous outlets. The company said crew members responded immediately after the woman entered the water.
“Carnival teams responded, successfully retrieving her from the water,” the company said. “Despite resuscitation efforts, she did not survive.”
A spokesperson for the cruise line did not respond to a request for comment from NTD News prior to publication.
Police said the woman had arrived in the Bahamas aboard a cruise ship and was driving a mobility scooter when she reportedly lost control and drove off the pier. During the fall, she is believed to have hit her head on the side of a vessel before entering the water.
Emergency responders recovered her from the water and took her to the ship’s medical facility for treatment. Despite lifesaving efforts, she later died and was pronounced dead by a local physician.
An autopsy is expected to determine the exact cause of death, and the investigation remains ongoing, police said.
Additional Fatalities on Cruise Lines
The death adds to a series of recent deadly incidents involving cruise passengers in and around Bahamian waters. Just days earlier, an 83-year-old American man died while snorkeling near Great Stirrup Cay, a private island destination operated by Norwegian Cruise Line.In that case, the man became unresponsive in the water while snorkeling with his son, who noticed he had stopped moving and found him without a mask. He was taken to shore but could not be revived.
“We are saddened by the passing of one of our guests who became unresponsive while snorkeling in the ocean,” a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said in a statement provided to NTD News. “Our medical team and local emergency responders provided immediate assistance. Unfortunately, the guest was unable to be revived. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family during this difficult time.”
Authorities are also investigating other maritime incidents in the region. According to the police force, two men went missing earlier in May after drifting into open waters while swimming near Highbourne Cay in the Exuma chain. A search effort was launched but later called off after the men could not be found.
Additional cruise-related deaths have been reported in recent weeks beyond the Bahamas. In April, a passenger aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship died after falling from a cabin balcony as the ship approached Catalina Island off the Southern California coast. The FBI confirmed it was investigating that incident.
That same month, another passenger died while snorkeling off the coast of Australia during a Carnival Splendor voyage.
Officials have not released the identity of the woman who died in the May 9 incident in the Bahamas.