British Woman Dies Saving Son in Bahamas Snorkelling Incident
Family mourns mother swept away after strong current imperiled her children; foul play not suspected.
Callum Smith
A 36-year-old British woman died in the Bahamas while snorkelling with her family.
Leanne Gregory, from Stapleford in Nottinghamshire, was with her husband and two sons when a powerful current swept her children away. She entered the water to rescue them; the current pulled her under.
Witnesses pulled Gregory from the water, initiating resuscitation efforts. CPR continued at the ferry dock before her transport to a local clinic, where medical staff pronounced her dead.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force stated, "Foul play is not suspected at this time." An autopsy will determine the exact cause of death.
Nathan Gregory, Leanne's husband, identified his wife. He claimed she was "sadly taken from us after saving my son's life in a rip tide."
Sadly taken from us after saving my son's life in a rip tide.
Gregory stated she held their son until his rescue. She then lacked the energy to save herself after a freak wave reportedly swept their boat away from her.
"This loss is unimaginable for our family, she was our foundation, our support, she made us who we are," Nathan Gregory said. He described their relationship: "We were childhood sweethearts, my one and only. 22 years into our relationship at only 36-years-old."
This loss is unimaginable for our family, she was our foundation, our support, she made us who we are. We were childhood sweethearts, my one and only. 22 years into our relationship at only 36-years-old.
Gregory expressed profound gratitude for his wife's heroism and his sons' safety. "I just have to be thankful for the hero she was in life and in death, and totally grateful for the fact my boys got out safely," he stated.
The Foreign Office provides support to the family. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office confirmed, "Our thoughts are with the family of a British woman who has died in the Bahamas."