Leanne Gregory, a 36-year-old mother from Nottinghamshire, England, has been identified as the woman who died while attempting to rescue her two sons from a strong current during a snorkeling trip in the Bahamas. Bahamian authorities announced the death last Tuesday after the incident occurred on North Bimini Island.
According to a statement from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, officers at the Alice Town Police Station received an alert around 10 a.m. Tuesday regarding an unresponsive woman at the North Bimini Ferry Dock. The police report stated that the woman had been snorkeling with her husband and two sons when a "strong current" swept the children away. In an effort to save them, Gregory was also pulled under by the water. She was later recovered and brought to the ferry dock, where bystanders reportedly administered CPR.
By the time police arrived, authorities were informed that Gregory had been transported to a local clinic. A doctor pronounced her dead despite resuscitation efforts. The police report noted that foul play is not suspected and that an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
Gregory’s husband, Nathan Gregory, paid tribute to his wife on Facebook, describing her as his "childhood sweetheart" and "soulmate." According to The BBC, Nathan Gregory shared on a GoFundMe page that Gregory held onto one of their sons until he was rescued but lacked the energy to save herself. He stated that his sons witnessed a traumatic event they should never have seen, yet they understand their mother died as a hero.
Kim Jones, Gregory’s mother-in-law, spoke with The Telegraph about the incident. She said her son attempted to revive Gregory with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Jones described the scene as devastating, noting that while both children were good swimmers, the current was too powerful for them to manage alone. "They were in difficulty, and she went out to rescue them. But the waters were too rough and choppy for her," Jones said.
Jones added that Gregory had a fondness for traveling to Florida and the Caribbean and was on a two-week vacation when the tragedy occurred. The couple had been together for over 20 years since meeting in school. "She was the best mom in the world, just brilliant: a lovely woman who would do anything for anyone," Jones said. "It’s all such a shock. ... I cannot imagine how my son will be feeling."
The death of Leanne Gregory is part of a series of recent vacation-related tragedies. In August, a Minnesota pastor died from severe spinal cord injuries after falling into a pool on a cruise ship in Italy during his son’s wedding celebration. Earlier in October, a Brazilian university official was killed by falling roofing material while visiting a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building in Arizona.