Mother killed in Bahamas tour boat explosion during anniversary trip with husband

Maleka Jackson, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, tragically died on her 15th anniversary trip after the engine of a boat exploded in the Bahamas. There were other nine injured, included a dancer who lost both of her legs.

Police are still investigating the mysterious explosion of the engine of a charter boat that caused the death of an American woman and left nine other Americans with several injuries. The incident took place off the coast of Exuma on Saturday at about 9 a.m.

A video took by people from another boat shows several tourists jumping into the water in an attempt to rescue some of the passengers off the burning ship.

Maleka Jackson and her husband, Tyran Jackson, were on the island celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary. But what was supposed to be a romantic vacation ended up in tragedy with the death of the mother of one.

Tyran is now getting treated in a hospital in Miami, with several leg injuries.

Speaking to CBS, Malvin Grimes, Maleka’s father, stated that his daughter was a loving mom to her 12-years-old son and that the couple dropped the boy with family on Nashville before their trip. “Maleka would be I guess what I call a shooting star,” Grimes said. “She had a life that kind of stayed straight on the course and it was a life that brought a lot of joy and a lot of support and love into the lives of others.”

A GoFundMe page has been created by Maleka’s family to raise funds for Tyran and their son, as they stated the father and son have a long road ahead of them without Maleka.

“Maleka was a loving Mom, dedicated wife, grateful daughter, and supportive friend.  She will be greatly missed, and her legacy will live on forever,” reads the page.

Stefanie Schaffer, her sister Brook, and her mother Stacey Bender were also among the affected.

Stefanie, a 22-years-old dancer, had both of her legs amputated and is still in critical condition but now back to Florida, according to her brother, George Schaffer.

Stacey, Stefanie’s mother, also suffered from several broken bones and internal injuries and will need surgery for her broken legs.

The cause of the explosion hasn’t been determined yet, but the Royal Bahamas Police Force is still investigating the tragic success.