State Department oversees investigation into death of Sandals Bahamas
The State Department said on Sunday that it was “closely monitoring” a Royal Bahamian Police investigation into deaths of three Americans at a resort in the Bahamas.
Three people were found dead and a fourth was hospitalized Friday at Sandals Emerald Bay Resort on Great Exuma Island in the Bahamas. The circumstances of their deaths were not disclosed, but The Royal Bahamian Police Force said two of the individuals reported feeling sick and receiving medical treatment.
“We can confirm the deaths of three US citizens in the Bahamas,” the US State Department wrote in a statement to US TODAY. “We are closely monitoring the local government’s investigation into the cause of death. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we are not at nothing more at this time”.
According to police, staff at the Sandals resort on Friday morning informed Bahamian police that they had found the bodies of an unresponsive man in a villa and another unresponsive man and woman. in another villa.
Police said the first man died at the scene and found no signs of trauma on his body. In the second villa, police found an unresponsive man leaning against the bathroom wall, and another unresponsive woman in bed. Both died at the scene and showed no signs of injury.
According to police, the couple in the second villa showed signs of “convulsions”. The couple had sought medical attention a day earlier and returned to the hotel after receiving treatment at a facility, police said.
The identities of the three victims were not disclosed. Another American woman was taken to the hospital, Acting Bahamas Prime Minister Chester Cooper said in a statement. Police do not suspect foul play, Cooper said.
Bahamian Minister of Health, Dr. Michael Darville told Eyewitness News Bahamas on Saturday that some hotel guests sought treatment for nausea and vomiting on Thursday and returned to the resort.
Environmental health scientists, doctors and others were flown in to investigate conditions at the resort to ensure there was no public health hazard to guests or other staff.
“We feel that what we are seeing is an isolated case involving a particular area,” Darville said.
Contribution: Associated Press