THREE people are dead after a tragic boating accident took place on Sunday evening in waters near Harbour Island.

Two boats carrying people who had just attended a birthday party on nearby Man Island, collided, leading to the deaths of Leanna Cartwright, Candice McDonald and Jay Roberts. Police said after 9pm, the captain of a 28-ft Bertram, which is used as a ferry, said he was travelling to Man Island when he heard and felt a loud bang. 

“He assumed that his vessel had hit a rock, but later realised that it collided with a 17ft Boston Whaler,” police said. 

The passengers on the Boston Whaler were ejected from the boat into the water. Police said eight people were on board the Boston Whaler while three people were on the Bertram, the latter of which were all accounted for. A rescue team found seven people who were on board the Boston Whaler—two women who were later pronounced dead, two women who were airlifted to Nassau, and a male and two females who were treated and discharged. 

Rickey Mackey, member of Parliament for the area, spoke to The Tribune shortly after the third body was found yesterday morning. Mr Mackey was with the search party.

“There was a birthday party on neighbouring Man Cay just to the north of Harbour Island last evening (Sunday),” he said. “When the event was over and persons were coming back to Harbour Island and the mainland, one of the local water taxis apparently ran into a privately operated vessel that had persons onboard that vessel.

“Thus far, two bodies were recovered last night (Sunday). Two ladies from the mainland of Eleuthera -– one from Gregory Town area and one from Lower Bogue. We discovered the third body, who we knew was missing, at about 8.30 this morning.

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