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A woman who died while trying to save her two sons as they were swept away by sea in the Bahamas was celebrating her 10th wedding anniversary, her husband said.
Leanne Gregory, 36, died after trying to save her two sons while snorkeling on Caribbean islands.
The family was on an expedition off the southern tip of Bimini Tuesday morning when powerful currents caught the boys.
The children were pulled from the water in time, but Ms Gregory, who was taken to the North Bimini ferry dock, was unconscious and was later pronounced dead at hospital.
Her husband Nathan Gregory said the trip was an early celebration of their anniversary in December.
“Our relationship was perfect. She was the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the foundation of our whole family,” he told the BBC.
In a GoFundMe page, which raised almost £10,000 for their children, Mr Gregory wrote: “We were childhood sweethearts, my one and only. 22 years of relationship at just 36 years old.
“We had our whole lives ahead of us and everything was taken away from us.
“I just have to be grateful for the hero she was in life and in death, and totally grateful that my boys came out safe.
“I am grateful to the people on the boat who noticed me after I struggled to get out of the water and got them out.
“I thank the lady who helped me try to bring her back from the boat.
“I’m grateful to my boys for staying strong after seeing something no one should ever see.
“But most of all I am grateful to my brave and incredible wife for keeping my boy above water even as you were sinking.
“You will be forever loved by everyone you have ever known and I know you will continue to watch over us.”
Linty Stuart, the owner of L&A Water Taxi, told Bahamian television station ZNS that he was the captain of the boat that pulled the family from the water after his crew spotted “frantic hands waving in the distance.”
“I immediately went to see why they (crew members) were calling me,” he recalls. “I saw them pointing towards the west side. I saw two boys and their mother.”
Mr Stuart said strong currents made recovery efforts “extremely difficult” and by the time they reached Ms Gregory she was already “face down” in the water.
“At least one 7-8 foot wave…almost knocked the whole ship over…it took me down,” he added of the harsh conditions. “It all happened very, very quickly. It’s a shock.”
“According to the preliminary report, shortly after 10 a.m., officers from the Alice Town Police Station received information that a woman was unresponsive at the North Bimini ferry dock,” police said in a statement.
“Police officers responded and upon arrival learned that the woman had been transported to the local clinic for medical treatment, where she was later pronounced dead by a local doctor despite efforts to save her life.
“Preliminary information indicates that the deceased was diving with her husband and two sons near the southern tip of the island when a strong current reportedly swept away the two children.
“In an attempt to save her sons, the woman was also swept away. She was then rescued and transported to the ferry dock, where CPR was reportedly administered.”
Gn world
