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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.
New details emerge about Americans killed and injured in Bahamas boat explosion https://t.co/1D3TkdEjNF pic.twitter.com/SBs6weODvm
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 4, 2018
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.
WATCH: A deadly explosion rocked a boat with 10 American tourists on it. Some passenger on another vessel jumped into the water to save people from the flames. https://t.co/d22YVvDgKK pic.twitter.com/RCnFDLLavO
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 2, 2018
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.”
Heartbreaking… A metro Atlanta PTSA president celebrating her anniversary in the Bahamas was killed when her tour boat exploded. Her husband was badly burned, the latest on his condition at 4 on @wsbtv. https://t.co/GUFQwHvy5z pic.twitter.com/TLvdBzLWWL
— Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) July 3, 2018
“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 Schaffer was one of 12 people on board a tour boat when it exploded https://t.co/64gStJl2bn
— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) July 3, 2018
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.
Family of young woman who lost both legs in #Bahama's boat explosion says she is still in a coma and unaware of what happened. This is a photo of #StefanieSchaffer with her mother and little sister who were also injured. #Fox35 #GDO https://t.co/mupLMH1ivX pic.twitter.com/7eoi3dG4Yl
— Amy Kaufeldt FOX 35 (@Fox35Amy) July 2, 2018
The cause of the explosion hasn’t been determined yet, but the Royal Bahamas Police Force is still investigating the tragic success.
