A British woman drowned in the Bahamas on Tuesday while attempting to rescue her two sons who were caught in strong currents during a snorkelling outing. Leanne Gregory, 36, from Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, was on a family trip with her husband, Nathan, and their children when the incident occurred off North Bimini island.

According to local reports, one of the boys became distressed while in the water, prompting Mrs. Gregory to enter the sea to assist him. Both children were pulled to safety by bystanders and the crew of a nearby boat, but Mrs. Gregory struggled against powerful currents. Linty Stuart, captain of L&A Water Taxi and operator of the boat that responded to the emergency, said he was alerted by his crew and saw the mother and her two sons in the water. While the children were rescued relatively quickly, reaching Mrs. Gregory proved more challenging.

Mr. Stuart described how his crew attempted to move the vessel to a calmer area before spotting Mrs. Gregory face down in the water. The ship’s first mate, Jason Saunders, administered CPR at the dock but was unable to revive her. Nathan Gregory, who also tried to perform resuscitation on his wife, was reportedly unable to save her. Witnesses at the scene praised the efforts of both parents, calling Mrs. Gregory a hero for her actions in the water.

The boys, according to witnesses and family members, are competent swimmers, but the choppy sea conditions and strong currents contributed to the emergency. Kim Jones, Mrs. Gregory’s mother-in-law, described the situation as devastating, noting that despite the children’s swimming ability, the force of the water proved too strong.

Authorities from the Royal Bahamas Police Force have opened an investigation into the death but have not indicated any suspicion of foul play. A spokesperson for the British Foreign Office said officials are in contact with local authorities and are providing assistance to the family.

The incident has drawn condolences from the local community and others familiar with the family, who have expressed sympathy for the loss and acknowledged the tragic circumstances surrounding Mrs. Gregory’s death.