HOPE TOWN, Bahamas — In a heartfelt statement, the husband of an American woman who vanished in the Bahamas has broken his silence, expressing his profound sorrow over her disappearance.

Authorities in the Bahamas report that Lynette Hooker, 55, and her husband, Brian Hooker, 58, set out from the Abaco Inn in Hope Town around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. They boarded a dinghy to return to their yacht. Brian Hooker informed officials that Lynette accidentally fell into the water, taking the ignition key with her, which resulted in the engine shutting down. Consequently, the current swept her away. Brian managed to paddle back to a marina in Marsh Harbor and reported her missing by 4:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Sharing his thoughts publicly for the first time on Wednesday, Brian Hooker expressed his anguish over the incident.

“I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas. Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus,” he wrote on Facebook.

Lynette went missing after falling from the dinghy on Saturday evening, with her husband alerting authorities the following morning.

“Our family is deeply grateful for the Bahamian people’s assistance, especially that of the Hopetown Volunteer Fire & Rescue team, Royal Bahamas police force, Royal Bahamas Defense Force, and the US Coast Guard, who have worked tirelessly in an ongoing effort to bring Lynette back to us. Thank you to everyone for keeping Lynette in your thoughts and for your support of our family during this difficult time,” Brian Hooker added.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.