On September 11, 2025, the remains of Second Lieutenant Robert Rosa of the Alaska Air National Guard were repatriated under the supervision of U.S. Embassy Chargé d’affaires Kimberly Furnish and U.S. Armed Forces officers. Rosa died in a jet ski incident while vacationing in Nassau.
Chargé Furnish expressed condolences to Rosa’s family, friends, and colleagues at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska. She stated: “Our hearts are with Lieutenant Rosa’s family and many friends and colleagues at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska. He served his country honorably and we are deeply saddened by his passing. He was not at fault in this incident, and we have called on the Bahamian government to investigate and seek justice for his family.”
The U.S. Embassy is collaborating with Bahamian authorities regarding deaths, injuries, and sexual assaults connected to the small watercraft industry, which has limited regulation. Currently, embassy personnel are prohibited from renting or operating jet skis, and American travelers to The Bahamas are cautioned about risks associated with using jet skis near New Providence and Paradise Island.
Further details on safety concerns related to jet skis and small watercraft can be found in the travel advisory at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Bahamas.html.