Bahamas safety reports

Police investigate fatal shooting at Bay and Parliament streets

Police reported that a 24-year-old man was fatally shot near Bay Street and Parliament Street around 2:30 a.m. on September 2, 2026. Their preliminary account described an argument followed by gunfire and a suspect fleeing in a vehicle. The investigation was continuing at the time of the report. This is a police account, not a conviction.

Related Our News video: https://www.facebook.com/OURNewsREV/videos/residents-react-to-bay-parliament-street-fatal-shooting/[phone number removed]/

Source: Royal Bahamas Police Force · September 2, 2026.

Former police investigations chief charged in bribery and theft case

ZNS reported in January 2025 that a former police investigations chief, an attorney and a sergeant were charged in a case involving alleged bribery and money from an armored-vehicle heist. The charges were allegations, not convictions. In an August 2026 ruling in the attorney’s case, the court rejected an application to halt the proceedings and allowed disputed recordings to be admitted. That procedural ruling is not a finding of guilt.

Court update: https://courts.bs/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/R.-v.-Bjorn-Ferguson-Application-for-Stay-Ruling.pdf

Source: The ZNS Network · January 8, 2025; court update August 2026.

Additional source: https://znsbahamas.com/former-cdu-chief-charged/

Police investigate fatal shooting outside a Nassau Street laundry

ZNS reported that a man was fatally shot outside Super Wash on Nassau Street in August 2025, with police describing a gunman who fled and crashed a getaway vehicle nearby. The report includes a bystander’s account and a police appeal for information. It does not establish a convicted offender or say the victim was a tourist.

Source: The ZNS Network · August 11, 2025.

Additional source: https://znsbahamas.com/nassau-street-homicide/

Bahama Grill disputes food-poisoning claims circulating online

Bahama Grill denied online claims linking its food to illnesses or deaths and said a circulating video did not show a dish it sold. ZNS reported that health authorities and police were investigating the claims, without reporting a confirmed foodborne outbreak. This is March 2025 coverage of disputed online claims and the business’s response, not a current outbreak notice.

Source: The ZNS Network · March 26, 2025.

Additional source: https://znsbahamas.com/deadly-food-poisoning-accusation-refuted/

Woman killed by shark while paddleboarding near Nassau in 2023

ABC News reported that a 44-year-old Massachusetts visitor died after a shark attack while paddleboarding near Sandals Royal Bahamian in December 2023. Police said a lifeguard brought her ashore and CPR was attempted. The reporting includes the resort’s condolences and does not establish resort negligence.

Source: ABC News · December 5, 2023.

Official conch-poisoning guidance tells sick visitors to seek care and report the illness

Bahamas food-safety officials warn that raw conch can carry bacteria and that handling, preparation and storage matter. Their May 7, 2021 guidance specifically addresses visitors who become ill after a conch meal: contact a nearby healthcare facility for advice, treatment and recording of the incident. Testing may help identify the cause.

The document was issued by BAHFSA with the Ministry of Health and Department of Environmental Health Services. It is historical official guidance, not a new outbreak notice or a complaint against any named restaurant. Read the source and seek current medical advice if you are unwell.

Family says they became sick after pork gyros at Acropolis Cafe

A visiting family says they became ill after eating pork gyros at Acropolis Cafe in Nassau. They were unhappy with the meal itself and believed the pork caused their illness. The review does not provide a diagnosis, test results or an official investigation establishing the cause.

The TripAdvisor account, titled “Shocking Disgusting,” was posted December 22, 2021, about a family visit that month. This is a historical customer allegation, not a current food-safety finding. The text was available in the search index; direct access was restricted during this check. The link opens the restaurant’s review listing. Verify the original review before publishing.

Parent says airport chicken nachos were raw and their child became ill

A family stopping at Rhythm Cafe in Nassau airport says they discovered nearly raw chicken after their child had eaten part of a plate of nachos. The parent describes several days of vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps afterward.

The TripAdvisor review was written September 6, 2024, about an August 2024 visit, under the title “Completely uncooked chicken--Food poisioning.” This is the parent’s account of suspected food poisoning, not a laboratory-confirmed finding. The review text was available in the search index; direct access to the listing was restricted during this check. The source link opens the restaurant’s review listing, not an individual-review permalink. Verify the original before publishing.

Nearly 100 guests and staff affected by a stomach bug at Sandals in 2018

A holiday illness cluster at Sandals Royal Bahamian affected nearly 100 people in August 2018, according to the health minister quoted by The Tribune. Guests and staff reported vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Health and environmental teams visited the property after the ministry was notified on August 7.

Officials said the early evidence pointed to a viral illness, not confirmed food poisoning. They ruled out a connection to the separate conch-poisoning outbreak and reported that cases had fallen as control measures were implemented. This is a historical outbreak report, not a warning that an outbreak is happening now.

Video coverage: woman describes a prolonged illness after a pig-swim trip

Cruise News Today’s May 8, 2025 report covers a woman’s claim that a lengthy illness began after a pig encounter near Nassau. The linked video’s pig-swim segment starts at 0:10. This is coverage of her account, not a medical case report proving where an infection originated.

Related discussion: The Royalty Adventure, May 16, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkiQjrCZgwE . That video retells the illness story and other secondhand medical claims; those are not separate verified incidents.

Article: https://cruiseradio.net/woman-claims-6-year-health-nightmare-began-after-swimming-with-the-pigs-in-bahamas/

UK warning: avoid baited water and check water-sports safety

UK travel advice warns that fatal shark attacks can occur without warning and identifies increased risk around dusk, at night and in baited water. It also describes poor regulation of water sports and reports of sexual assaults by jet-ski operators in Nassau. The advice is to consider these risks before swimming or hiring equipment. It does not say that every operator is unsafe or that all pig-swim locations have the same conditions.

Official UK government guidance checked September 20, 2026. Read the source for updates.

Guest flags pig-bite warning, jellyfish and limited shade on Pearl Island day trip

A visitor describing a September 2, 2024 excursion says staff warned guests they would need to handle any pig bite themselves. The account also mentions jellyfish stings, limited shade and a tiring walk back to the ship. It does not say the writer was bitten. The same reviewer praised the clear water, animal interaction and straightforward transfer, and said the day delivered what they expected overall.

Source: Royal Caribbean Blog community forum, posted September 11, 2024. This is a guest’s review, not an official cruise-line notice.

A “free” bracelet became a donation demand, parent says

A parent says a street vendor placed a bracelet on their child without asking and described it as free, then requested a donation. When the parent said they had no cash, the vendor removed it. The post describes an uncomfortable sales encounter near the cruise-port area. It does not identify a tour operator or establish that a nearby restaurant was involved.

Source: Reddit post “Bracelets.”

Free facial ended in a $9,897 purchase and a failed refund dispute

A couple says a short Nassau shopping stop became hours of sales pressure, alcoholic drinks and almost $10,000 in purchases. They later tried to return the products, but the merchant relied on final-sale terms and their card dispute failed. Consumer Rescue reviewed their documents and found no evidence proving drugging or fraud. It also clarified that the purchase included three expensive devices, not just ordinary creams. The couple remained unhappy, but the article did not substantiate their claimed scam.

Source: Consumer Rescue, August 26, 2024, updated July 14, 2025.

Guest reports rough seas and a loose fire extinguisher; operator disputes details

A visitor on the January 2, 2025 Pink Sand Beach and Swimming Pigs trip says rough seas frightened passengers and a fire extinguisher narrowly missed them. Born Free responded that the crew had assessed conditions as safe and disputed the stated extinguisher weight, saying its units are three pounds and mounted near the floor. The operator also disputed the guest’s conduct during the trip. The source records both sides; it does not establish a safety violation or an injury.

Source: TripAdvisor review of January 6, 2025, and operator response of January 7.

Pigs kept in cages and brought out for tourist photos, visitor says

An April 2025 visitor was upset by the way pigs were handled at Sand Dollar Beach. The review describes animals being released from cages in turns, prodded with an object and guided to food in the water before being put back. The guest also says a piglet was passed between tourists for photographs. These are the reviewer’s observations and welfare concerns, not an official animal-welfare inspection.

Source: TripAdvisor review “Terrible, sad, ugly,” April 15, 2025.

Rough return ride left guests bruised and shivering, reviewer says

A February 2026 reviewer describes a frightening two-hour return ride from Exuma, saying the group was soaked, bruised and not given life vests. Aqua Shores responded that sea conditions were assessed as safe, its boats carry required safety equipment, and life vests are available to wear on request. It said it cancels trips when conditions are unsafe and that open-water travel may not suit every family. The complaint and response describe a disagreement about that trip, not a regulatory finding.

Source: TripAdvisor, “Not safe, awful experience,” and management response of February 23, 2026.

Missing-wristband dispute delayed Blue Lagoon ferry for over an hour

A report about an Easter 2025 excursion describes security removing a guest from a Blue Lagoon ferry after a dispute over a missing wristband. The article reports a lengthy delay and passenger concerns about the heat, including an asthma episode. It does not resolve whether the removed guest had paid for the excursion or simply misplaced the wristband. The linked coverage includes the circulated video and differing accounts.

Source: Cruise Mummy, May 5, 2025.

One passenger died after Blue Lagoon excursion ferry took on water

A crowded double-decker excursion ferry took on water near Paradise Island on November 14, 2023. The Tribune reported that one passenger died and others were rescued. Police described rough conditions and more than 100 people aboard. This report concerns that specific ferry incident; it does not establish the medical cause of death or the operator’s current safety status.

Source: The Tribune, November 14, 2023.

Passenger lost both legs in propeller incident after Pearl Island excursion

A lawsuit describes a May 12, 2025 excursion ending with a passenger in the water beside a catamaran, where a propeller caused injuries requiring both legs to be amputated. She alleges unsafe alcohol service and that staff directed her to use the sea as a toilet. Pearl Island and Sun Cay sought dismissal of the Florida case on jurisdictional grounds. That filing is not a ruling on what happened or who was responsible.

Source: The Tribune, May 26, 2026. Lawsuit allegations, not established findings.

Passenger says pig-tour boat struck a fisherman on the way to Rose Island

A Reddit poster describing a February 14, 2024 J&S Tours trip says their boat hit a fisherman, transferred the injured person to another vessel and then continued the excursion. The passenger was upset about the response and says a refund was refused. The post also raises concern about the captain’s phone use; according to the same account, the captain said he was using navigation, not selecting music. The linked post includes a video link, but the account is not an official finding of fault.

Source: Reddit passenger account.

Bench collapsed before pig excursion reached the island, lawsuit says

A passenger says a boat bench gave way about ten minutes into a Carnival-sold Swimming with the Pigs: Express excursion on March 24, 2025. She alleges that she fell onto the deck and injured her tailbone and spine, and that the boat returned without reaching the pigs. The account comes from a lawsuit filed in March 2026. These are the passenger’s allegations, not a court finding about the boat operator or Carnival.

Source: Cruise Overload’s report on the lawsuit.

Fatal shark attack during Green Cay snorkeling trip in September 2022

A visitor died after a shark attack while snorkeling near Green Cay on September 6, 2022. The Tribune identified the excursion operator as Seas the Day and reported that it temporarily stopped operating after the incident. The owner described crew rescue efforts, including bringing the visitor aboard. That historical suspension does not establish the business’s current status, and the report does not establish operator negligence. This was a different company and incident from Seas N’ Cays.

Source: The Tribune, September 13, 2022.

Little beach time and no pig swim, guest says

The family enjoyed parts of the day but felt the trip fell short for the price. Their December 2024 review describes roughly 20 minutes of snorkeling in rough water, a brief turtle sighting and waves making the Rose Island landing difficult. They fed the pigs rather than swimming with them and had little beach time.

Seas ’n Cays responded that, if this was the December 24 trip, it provided boat transport for another company, not the tour. It said the photographed location was not one of its stops and offered to relay the feedback.

Source: TripAdvisor review, ‘Good but not great. Not worth the cost.’, December 24, 2024, and operator response. Source-linked summary, not a firsthand submission to this site.

Pig-tour complaints led to an inspection; officials later reported no mistreatment

A video showing pigs being guided into the water at Crystal Beach prompted complaints and an investigation in August 2023. Visitors said the animals seemed distressed; Celebrity Eco Tours disputed mistreatment. Later coverage said officials found no evidence of mistreatment during their inspection, though rough conditions prevented them from observing the swimming activity that day.

Source: The Tribune; Nassau Guardian follow-up via BahamasLocal.

A Nassau pig bite led to urgent care, traveler says

After a pig-swim excursion in Nassau, this traveler says a bite became infected and they sought urgent care. They describe receiving antibiotics and rabies post-exposure treatment. That treatment does not mean the animal had rabies. The linked thread includes the traveler’s account and other visitors’ responses.

Source: Reddit public post.

Pigs appeared reluctant to swim and struggled in waves, guest says

The pig-swim stop was upsetting for this guest, who described animals that seemed unwilling to enter the water and struggled in the waves. Their review concerns a Nassau swimming-pigs and turtle excursion. The operator disputed mistreatment in its response on the listing.

Source: Tripadvisor public review.