Bahamian officials confirmed that three American tourists have died at a Sandals resort in Exuma after falling ill. Health minister, Dr Michael Darville, told Eyewitness News Bahamas on Saturday that some hotel guests went to a clinic Thursday with nausea and vomiting, were treated and left. Three were later found dead. A fourth was flown to a hospital in New Providence.
Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper issued a statement Friday saying that police are investigating and the cause of death was unknown, though foul play “is not suspected.” Their identities were not initially made public.
Cooper was filling in for Prime Minister Philip E. Davis, who was out of the country.
Police said resort staff contacted the George Town Police Station Friday morning after a man was found unresponsive in a villa, and shortly after reported that another man and woman were found unresponsive in another villa.
Police found the man in the first villa lying on the ground with no signs of trauma, authorities said. In the second villa, the man was found “slumped against a wall in a bathroom” and the woman was found on a bed, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement.
“Both individuals showed signs of convulsion,” police said. No signs of trauma were found on either body.
Darville said the environmental health scientists, physicians and others were investigating to ensure there was not a public health hazard.
“We feel that what we are seeing is an isolated case associated in a particular area,” he said, adding that investigators are doing toxicology and blood tests to help determine the cause of the illness.
The head of communications for the prime minister’s office, Latrae L. Rahming, tweeted that the deaths occurred at Sandals Emerald Bay in Exuma.
Sandals said it was “actively working to support both the investigation as well as the guests’ families in every way possible.”
“A health emergency was initially reported and following our protocols we immediately alerted emergency medical professionals and relevant local authorities,” the company said in a statement. “Out of respect for the privacy of our guests, we cannot disclose further information at this time.”
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