Two American tourists in their seventies have died in separate drowning incidents at a newly opened resort in the Bahamas, officials have confirmed.
The deaths occurred on Friday at Celebration Key, a $600m private destination built for Carnival Cruise Line passengers, which opened in July around 100 miles (160km) off the coast of Florida.
Carnival Cruise Line said its lifeguards and medical staff responded to two emergencies on the same day, one at a lagoon and the other on a beach. “Sadly, both guests have passed away,” the company said in a statement.
According to police, the first incident took place shortly before midday when a 79-year-old man was discovered unresponsive while snorkelling off the beach. A lifeguard pulled him to shore and attempted resuscitation, but he was later declared dead by medical staff.
Roughly two and a half hours later, a 74-year-old woman was found unconscious while swimming in a pool. A lifeguard carried out CPR before she was also pronounced dead.
Police said autopsies would be conducted to determine the causes of death. The victims’ names have not been released.
Carnival confirmed that the two guests had been travelling separately with their families on different ships, the Carnival Mardi Gras, which departs from Port Canaveral in Orlando, and the Carnival Elation, which sails from Jacksonville.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the guests and their families, and our care team is providing assistance,” the company said, adding that it was cooperating with law enforcement authorities.
Celebration Key features beaches, lagoons, pools, a swing bar and retail areas. Carnival expects around two million visitors annually, with numbers projected to double by 2028.
