British woman Leanne Gregory, who died saving her sons in the Bahamas, was celebrating her wedding anniversary

The key facts

Leanne Gregory, 36, died on Tuesday off the coast of Bimini while trying to save her sons, who had been swept away by a current; the children were rescued.
According to her husband Nathan, the trip was an early celebration of their 10th wedding anniversary, which was due to take place in December.
Bahamas police said there were no suspicions of foul play and an autopsy would be carried out; the fundraiser has raised almost £9,000.

Tragedy off the coast of Bimini

36-year-old Leanne Gregory from Stapleford in Nottinghamshire died in the Bahamas while trying to save her two sons, who, according to her husband, were swept out to sea by a rip current. The children were rescued from the water on Tuesday, but their mother could not be saved, the Royal Bahamas Police Force reported. According to police, officers received a report of an unresponsive woman near the North Bimini ferry dock shortly after 10:00 local time; CPR was performed and she was taken to a local clinic, where she was pronounced dead. Police said an autopsy would be carried out, but that there were 'no suspicions of foul play'. The family had only just arrived on the island of Bimini.

A family celebration cut short by tragedy

The victim's husband Nathan Gregory, who returned home with his sons, told the BBC on Sunday that the trip was an early celebration of their 10th wedding anniversary, which the couple had planned for December. He said the boys were thrilled about the trip and were snorkelling in shallow water while their parents were laying out towels and bags on the beach when the children got into trouble. Both parents rushed into the sea, the children were swept away by the current, and the whole situation unfolded in less than ten minutes. Nathan described the loss as 'unthinkable' and said his wife was 'a hero... in life and in death' for helping to save their sons. He added that he had known her since primary school and that they had been together since the age of 14 — that is, 22 years — calling her 'the kindest, most generous and most wonderful person', the foundation of the whole family. Nathan also thanked Royal Caribbean and Virgin Atlantic for helping them get home.

Community reaction and support for the family

A fundraiser on the GoFundMe platform has raised almost £9,000 to support the husband and sons. Stapleford North ward councillor in Broxtowe Borough, Richard MacRae, described the community as 'close-knit' and said it would rally around the family. Condolences were also expressed on social media by friends of the deceased and by Stapleford fire station, which said it was 'deeply saddened' by the death of the mother of two. The UK Foreign Office confirmed that it is in contact with the local authorities and is supporting the family of the British woman who died in the Bahamas.

What is known and what remains unknown

The confirmed facts are limited to the Bahamas police reports and the husband's account: the exact circumstances of the incident, the autopsy results and an official conclusion on the cause of death have not yet been published. Editorial conclusion from the above: the event primarily affects the family and the small community of Stapleford, where, according to the local councillor, residents are ready to support the widowed father and his two children; a practical consequence has already been the fundraising drive, which, judging by Nathan Gregory's statement, covers the family's needs following the emergency return home.