NEED TO KNOW
- Two American tourists drowned in separate incidents at the newly opened Celebration Key resort in the Bahamas on Friday, Aug. 15
- According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), the victims, a man and woman in their 70s, were found “unresponsive” in the water on two different vessels
- “Our thoughts and prayers are with the guests and their families and our Care Team is providing assistance,” Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement
Two Carnival Cruise passengers have died in separate drowning incidents at a private resort in the Bahamas.
Shortly before midday local time on Friday, Aug. 15, police were alerted to an incident at Celebration Key, where they discovered an “unresponsive” 79-year-old man, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) said in a news release shared on Facebook.
The unidentified American tourist was snorkeling at a beach before he became unresponsive and had to be removed from the water by a lifeguard. Despite CPR being administered, the man was soon pronounced dead by a medical doctor, per the news release.
In another incident shortly after 2:30 p.m. the same day, officers discovered an “unresponsive” 74-year-old woman on board a separate cruise ship.
“The initial report suggests that the female became unresponsive while swimming in a pool,” police said in the release. The unidentified American woman was given CPR at the scene, but also died.
The two tourists had been traveling on separate Carnival Cruise ships at Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island at the time of the incidents.
Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, “Our lifeguards and medical team responded to two separate water emergency incidents at Celebration Key on Friday — one in the lagoon and one at the beach.
“Sadly, both guests have passed away. One guest was sailing with family on Mardi Gras and one guest was sailing with family on Carnival Elation,” the statement continued.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the guests and their families and our Care Team is providing assistance,” they added.
An autopsy is scheduled for both victims to determine their causes of death, according to the RBPF’s news release.
The police investigation into the incidents is ongoing.
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Carnival Cruise Line’s private travel destination, Celebration Key, first opened on July 19 with an over $600 million investment, per New York Post.
The luxury resort includes a beach club, swimming pools, bars, a DJ island, restaurants and showcases for both adults and children, according to its website.
PEOPLE has reached out to the RBPF for comment.
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