What was meant to be a joyful celebration turned into an unimaginable nightmare for 22-year-old Hannah Smith, a gifted graduate from Miles College, Alabama, who is now fighting for her life after a tragic boating accident in the Bahamas, reported the Daily Mail.
Hannah had just earned top honours in her arts degree and was marking the milestone with a Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Sunrise. She and her best friend, Brooklyn Pitre, had spent the day enjoying Pearl Island – a postcard-perfect spot known for swimming pigs and dolphins, before heading back to Nassau Cruise Port on a pontoon ferry.
But just as the boat began docking at around 3.55 pm, things went wrong. According to reports, Hannah fell into the water and was pulled underneath by the vessel’s propeller. The injuries were devastating – both of her legs were torn, and she was left in critical condition. Two quick-thinking female passengers managed to grab her arm and pull her back onboard before she was rushed to a local hospital and later airlifted to the US for emergency surgery.
Initial speculation suggested alcohol may have played a part, with some reports claiming she had jumped. But her mother, Tracy, has strongly pushed back against that narrative, saying: “Hannah was not intoxicated. She fell from the boat. It’s hurtful to say she jumped because she did not.”
Tracy also criticised the handling of the investigation so far, questioning why Brooklyn – the only person who witnessed everything – wasn’t interviewed by police. “These kids work their a***s off to graduate. It was a celebratory trip,” she said. “Were they drunk? No. Did she jump? No. Are we completely aware of what happened? No. But I want to know the truth.”
Hannah’s father, Marvin, echoed the sentiment, saying the doctor treating her confirmed she was coherent when she arrived at the hospital, adding there was no indication she was inebriated.
A witness told police they heard someone shout “she jumped off” followed by a loud thud from the starboard side, where the ferry captain then saw Hannah in a pool of blood. He immediately shut off the engine.
Since being flown back to the US on Wednesday, Hannah has undergone multiple surgeries. Her family has set up a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses. Marvin described her as a “scholar, leader, and community advocate,” and said she now needs the same support she’s always given others.
Don’t Miss These:
- Kemi Badenoch Just Took Keir Starmer Apart and It Was Brutal to Watch
- Susanna Reid in Tears as Brave Survivor of Knife Attack Launches Campaign to Stop More Lives Being Lost
- Boy 15 Dies After Doctors Dismissed Heart Warning Signs as Asthma in Tragic Misdiagnosis
- This Morning Chaos Has Viewers Cringing As Blunders Hit Live Show Before It Even Starts
- Where’s Farage? PM Mocks Reform Leader’s No-Show in Commons Brexit Clash
