Leanne Gregory Died Saving Sons During Bahamas Riptide

Leanne Gregory, 36, drowned off Bimini, Bahamas, after wading into a riptide with her husband, Nathan, in an attempt to save their two sons, who had gotten into difficulty while snorkelling, Nathan Gregory told the BBC. The couple, from Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, had traveled to the Bahamas to mark their 10th wedding anniversary early, ahead of the actual date in December, according to the BBC.

What happened to the Gregory family off Bimini?

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said officers received reports of the incident shortly after 10:00 on Tuesday, according to a statement posted on social media and cited by the BBC. Nathan Gregory said the boys had been snorkelling in shallow water while the couple sorted towels and bags on the beach when the children were swept out by a current. Both parents went into the sea to reach them, he said, and the entire ordeal — from the boys being pulled out to their rescue — lasted less than 10 minutes. Police said the two children were rescued from the water Tuesday off the coast of Bimini. Their mother could not be saved, the force said.

Who was Leanne Gregory?

Gregory and her husband had been together since age 14 and had known each other since infant school, a span of 22 years, Nathan Gregory told the BBC. He described her as his "childhood sweetheart" and said the loss was "unimaginable," calling her a "hero … in life and in death" for trying to rescue their sons. "There are no words I can use to describe Leanne, same as anyone she has ever known," he said. "She was the purest of people, the most generous kind and beautiful person who ever walked the earth. Our relationship was perfect. She was the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the foundation of our entire family." He added that the trip had been built around his wife's love of the ocean, sealife and food.

By the numbers

• 36 — Leanne Gregory's age at the time of her death
• 10th — the wedding anniversary the family was marking on the trip, with the actual date in December
• 22 years — how long Nathan and Leanne had been together, since age 14
• £9,000 — approximate amount raised so far through a GoFundMe campaign for the family, per the BBC
• Under 10 minutes — the duration of the incident, from the boys being swept out to their rescue, according to Nathan Gregory

How is the family getting home, and who has helped?

Nathan Gregory, now back in the UK with his sons, said Royal Caribbean and Virgin Atlantic — referred to in his comments to the BBC as "Virgin Airlines" — helped arrange the family's travel home. "Royal Caribbean and Virgin Airlines were absolutely incredible to us and made an impossible journey home so much easier," he said. A GoFundMe campaign set up to support the two boys has generated close to £9,000 in donations, the BBC reported. Nathan Gregory said he is focused on "staying strong" for his sons following their return.

How has Stapleford responded?

Richard MacRae, the Broxtowe Borough Council member for Stapleford North, described the town as a "tight-knit community" that would support the family, calling the loss "sad" and "heartbreaking," particularly given the involvement of young children. "My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends and the wider community," he said. Stapleford Fire Station said it was "deeply saddened" to learn of Gregory's death, adding, "Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time." Tributes also appeared on a BBC Facebook post, including one reading, "Grateful to have known you and worked with you Leanne! Gone too soon, but never forgotten."

What to watch

• The Royal Bahamas Police Force has not issued further detail beyond its initial statement confirming the rescue of the two boys and Gregory's death.
• The GoFundMe campaign for the Gregory boys remains active, having raised nearly £9,000 as of the BBC's report.
• Nathan Gregory has not indicated whether the family intends to pursue any formal inquiry into the incident; no such action has been reported.
• No additional statement from Royal Caribbean or Virgin Atlantic regarding the family's travel arrangements has been published beyond Nathan Gregory's own account.

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