A vacation turned into tragedy for an American couple from Pennsylvania who were snorkeling off tiny Chubb Cay when they ran into difficulties and drowned.
David George Steinbeck, 61, and his wife Charlotte Marie Steinbeck, 60, were on holiday with friends in the Berry Islands. Friends tried to rescue the married couple by hauling them into a dinghy but both died before reaching the shore.
Police do not suspect foul play but said a team would be sent to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. Autopsies will be performed at Princess Margaret Hospital.
The couple was staying with another couple on a 37-foot Catamaran “Bob’s Cat” as the guests of a third couple, Pennsylvania attorney Robert White and his wife, Barbara.
Officers say it is possible that while snorkeling, the current overwhelmed the Steinbeck’s, pulling them under water.
The Bahamas has been the scene of numerous tourist water sport injuries and deaths. Recently, the US Government issued a Spring Break travel warning mentioning the lack of safety and regulation of water sports in the Bahamas.
Another concern is visitors who are unfamiliar with the inherent dangers of the open sea.
