US serviceman killed in jet ski collision in Bahamas as officials warn tourists over watercraft safety
The State Department and US Embassy in Nassau have issued warnings after a 41-year-old Alaska Air National Guard officer died and other vacationers were injured in multiple jet ski incidents off Paradise Island
A 41-year-old US serviceman died after his jet ski collided with a 38-foot tour boat off Paradise Island in Nassau on Aug. 31, prompting renewed warnings from the US Embassy and State Department about the safety of small watercraft in Bahamian waters.
Second Lieutenant Robert Rosa of the Alaska Air National Guard was knocked unconscious in the collision and suffered severe head and leg injuries. Medical personnel pronounced him dead after rescuers pulled him from the water, according to a statement from the Royal Bahamas Police Force. The police said Marine Support Services officers responded shortly after 11:30 a.m. to the scene and that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
US officials said Rosa, who also served in the US Air Force and was a father of two from Wasilla, Alaska, was not at fault. Chargé d'affaires Kimberly Furnish of the US Embassy in Nassau said the embassy is working with Bahamian authorities "to address the persistence of deaths, injuries and sexual assaults associated with the minimally regulated small watercraft industry." The embassy has prohibited personnel under its authority from renting or operating jet skis and on Friday issued guidance warning American travelers about the risks of renting or operating jet skis around New Providence and Paradise Island.
The collision that killed Rosa occurred the same day that two other American men, ages 29 and 42, were injured after losing control of a jet ski and striking a dock. Authorities said those two men were not badly hurt. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said it is probing several recent incidents in local waters, including Rosa's death.
Rosa's family has set up a GoFundMe page to cover funeral expenses, which had raised more than $8,000, and relatives described him as a devoted husband and father. His mother-in-law, Franci Viens, paid tribute on the crowdfunding page, saying the family faces the "unimaginable task" of planning his funeral.
The incidents come amid growing concern over watercraft safety and a string of accidents that have killed and seriously injured tourists and residents in the Bahamas. The US State Department currently classifies the Bahamas as a Level 2 travel destination, urging increased caution because of violent crime, gang activity and maritime accidents. A March advisory warned that "boating is not well regulated" and that watercraft operators may not be licensed or insured.
In recent months, a number of high-profile accidents have underscored those warnings. In March, a 73-year-old British woman died after losing control of a jet ski and striking a pier. A US Marine suffered the amputation of his right arm after a motorboat struck him during a diving exercise near a submarine training base. In May, 22-year-old Hannah Smith, a college graduate, lost both legs after falling off a pontoon boat and being struck by its propeller while docking in Nassau.
US officials have also highlighted reports of sexual assaults involving jet ski operators. An April travel alert said several rapes and sexual assaults had been reported in downtown Nassau and Paradise Island, with allegations that victims were taken by jet ski operators to isolated islands. A separate case in early September involved an 18-year-old American tourist who reported a sexual assault at a Paradise Island resort; authorities arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with that incident.
Furnish urged the Bahamian government to investigate Rosa's death and to help secure justice for his family. "He served his country honorably and we are deeply saddened by his passing," she said. The Royal Bahamas Police Force reiterated that its investigation into the Aug. 31 collision is continuing.
Bahamian authorities have said they are reviewing safety practices and licensing in the marine tourism sector, though regulators have long faced criticism for limited oversight of small watercraft operators. The string of incidents has prompted calls from US officials and family members for stricter enforcement and improved safety measures for commercial and rental watercraft.
Tourism officials in the Bahamas have stressed the importance of safety and cooperation with international partners but have not released detailed public comments on ongoing probes. The outcomes of the police investigation into Rosa's death and related incidents are expected to influence future guidance from US agencies and possible policy changes in the Bahamas.
As investigations proceed, the US Embassy in Nassau continues to advise travelers to exercise caution around small watercraft and to consider avoiding jet skis in the New Providence and Paradise Island areas. The embassy and State Department have advised travelers to register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for updates and to contact local authorities for ongoing incidents.