A tragic maritime accident off the coast of Abaco, Bahamas, has claimed the life of a 37-year-old father of two, after a work-bound vessel exploded early Saturday morning, leaving all seven passengers stranded in open water before six survivors were pulled to safety. The victim, Jamal Cornish, had been hired alongside six other men for a construction project on Spanish Cay when the fatal incident unfolded just after 6 a.m.
Local law enforcement has shared key details about the chain of events that led to the blast. The group was traveling on a 23-foot teal-and-white Angler boat when mechanical issues arose: a crew member detected water leaking from the vessel’s bilge pump. While attempting to fix the malfunction, the crew member accidentally placed a wire against the engine’s battery, triggering an immediate explosion that forced all seven men into the ocean.
In the chaotic aftermath of the blast, all passengers worked together to stay afloat as they waited for rescue. Cornish, who had been helping address the vessel’s mechanical problems before the explosion, eventually told the other men he could no longer keep his head above water, before losing his grip and slipping beneath the surface. Nearby private boat operators responded quickly to the emergency, pulling six of the seven passengers from the water unharmed. Cornish’s body was later recovered by his own family members, and he was officially pronounced dead at the Marsh Harbour Health Centre by a local physician.
For Cornish’s family, the sudden loss has been devastating to process. His sister, Jasmine Curry, told reporters she had just traveled to Grand Bahama when she received the shocking call about the accident, and immediately returned to Abaco to join the search. “When the search was going on, it just seemed like unreal. Then when we got the news that they found his body it still didn’t seem real,” Curry shared. A commercial fisherman by trade, Cornish had taken the construction job to supplement his income while the Bahamian lobster season is closed, a role he had held for several months leading up to the accident. Those who knew him remember him as a humble, kind, and deeply loving man devoted entirely to his wife and two children.
Curry noted that the boat was privately owned, not property of the construction company the men were working for, and she emphasized that she views the incident as a tragic accident, not a negligent act that requires accountability. She added that she has not yet spoken with the six surviving passengers about the events of that morning.
In an official statement released following the incident, the Bahamas Ministry of Transport and the Port Department offered their deepest condolences to Cornish’s loved ones, and praised the quick action of the private citizens who rescued the remaining six passengers. The statement also used the tragedy to highlight the critical importance of maritime safety for communities across the island nation.
“Marine travel remains an essential part of daily life throughout The Bahamas,” the statement read. “Thousands of residents, workers, fishermen, contractors, and visitors depend on our waters every day. Incidents such as this are a stark reminder that safety at sea cannot be taken for granted, whether a voyage is routine, or a vessel is travelling a familiar route.”
Officials confirmed that authorities are still in the process of collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses to fully document the circumstances of the explosion. The Ministry and Port Department have asked the public to refrain from spreading unconfirmed speculation about the incident, and to allow investigative teams to complete their work and confirm the full factual details of the tragedy.