Three Americans were found dead and a fourth person was hospitalized Friday at a Sandals resort in the Bahamas, officials said.
It remains unclear how they died. Royal Bahamas Police Force said it was investigating a report that a couple had complained of feeling ill and had sought treatment at a hospital.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Sandals confirmed the deaths at Sandals Emerald Bay on Great Exuma, an island known as a luxury travel destination.
“It is with deep sadness that we can confirm the passing of three guests at Sandals Emerald Bay on May 6, 2022,” Stacy Royal, a spokesperson for Sandals, said in a statement. “A health emergency was initially reported and following our protocols we immediately alerted emergency medical professionals and relevant local authorities.”
On Friday morning, resort staff members notified George Town Police that a man was found unresponsive in one of the villas. While officers were on their way to the resort, they were told another man and woman were found unresponsive in another villa, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.
Officers found a man lying on the ground in the first villa, police said. He was later pronounced dead, but an examination of the body found no signs of trauma
Police then found a man in the bathroom of another villa and a woman unresponsive on a bed. Both “showed signs of convulsion,” police said, but no signs of trauma. That couple had complained of feeling ill the evening before and had returned to their villa after receiving treatment at a hospital, investigators said.
Another American woman was airlifted to a hospital, said Bahamas Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper, adding that police did not suspect foul play in the deaths.
Police were awaiting an autopsy report to determine the cause of the deaths, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
Sandals Resorts is based in Jamaica and operates several resorts in the Jamaica, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
“Nothing is more important to Sandals Resorts than the safety of our guests,” the company’s statement said, in part. “… We are actively working to support both the investigation as well as the guests’ families in every way possible during this difficult time. Out of respect for the privacy of our guests, we cannot disclose further information at this time.”
Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.
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