The US Coast Guard has opened a criminal investigation into the disappearance of an American woman who reportedly fell overboard from a small boat in the Bahamas while on holiday with her husband, a Coast Guard official confirmed to the BBC on Wednesday.
Lynette Hooker went missing on Saturday after falling out of an 8ft (2.4m) hard-bottom dinghy and being swept out to sea by strong currents, her husband told authorities.
The Coast Guard was not able to comment on the specifics of the investigation, including on potential suspects in the case.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force did not immediately respond to the BBC's request for comment.
In a statement shared with US media partner CBS News on Wednesday, Brian Hooker said he was "heartbroken" about his wife's disappearance and thanked authorities and volunteers for the ongoing search.
