U.S. tourists who died at Sandals resort in Bahamas identified

(NEXSTAR) – Authorities have identified the three U.S. travelers who died at a Sandals Vacation resort in the Bahamas right after falling mysteriously unwell. Samples taken from all 3 vacationers have been despatched to a U.S. lab to help identify what transpired.

Officers were being named to the Sandals Resort on the island of Exuma Friday early morning soon after a single of the travelers, a guy, was found unresponsive in a villa, the Royal Bahamas Police Drive reported in a statement.

On their way to the resort, officers ended up told two additional unresponsive holidaymakers, a female and a second man, had been uncovered in a independent villa. All 3 were pronounced useless at the resort, with the lady and next guy each demonstrating “signs of convulsion,” neighborhood officers claimed.

A fourth vacationer, a woman, was flown to a hospital.

The 3 victims have been determined as Michael and Robbie Phillips of Tennessee and Vincent Paul Chiarella of Florida. Chiarella’s wife, Donnis, was the female flown to a healthcare facility. She has been airlifted to Florida but remains in critical issue.

The Tennessee few is from Maryville, wherever they ran a vacation agency that worked with Sandals, Nexstar’s WATE has uncovered. The agency has been identified with several awards and accreditations from the Sandals Travel Agency Recognition Awards.

A Fb post from Thursday, purportedly posted by Robbie Phillips, even shared admiration for the sights in the Bahamas.

Samples had been taken from the vacationers, their rooms, and the close by property to aid recognize irrespective of whether any contaminants have been current.

Wellness Minister Michael Darville claimed Saturday that some resort friends went to a clinic Thursday with nausea and vomiting, were being taken care of and left. He stated original investigations show it was an isolated incident.

Chiarella’s son, Austin, spoke with ABC Information previous week and mentioned his mother and father had been staying at the vacation resort for their anniversary. Donnis instructed her son she fell unwell Thursday but felt “she was alright” right after leaving the clinic, ABC News reports.

Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper issued a statement Friday stating that police are investigating and foul participate in “is not suspected.”

Minister of Wellbeing and Wellness Dr. Michael Darville advised Eyewitness News Bahamas the staff investigating these fatalities “have a theory” concerning what happened but are nonetheless performing to decide the precise trigger. Authorities keep on to believe that these are isolated circumstances.

The U.S. Point out Department is monitoring the investigation and is “ready to provide all suitable consular aid,” a spokesperson advised The Hill.

In a assertion to Eyewitness Information Bahamas, a representative for Sandals explained, “Nothing is much more significant to Sandals Resorts than the protection of our visitors. It is with deep disappointment that we validate the passing of 3 of our attendees at Emerald Bay Vacation resort on May possibly 6, 2022. A health and fitness crisis was in the beginning claimed and following the protocols, we promptly alerted crisis medical industry experts and suitable regional authorities to offer aid and investigate the condition.”

The company claimed it is cooperating with the investigation.

The Related Press contributed to this report.