EXUMA, The Bahamas — UPDATE (May 25): Sandals Emerald Bay Resort, the resort where a Maryville couple and a Florida man were staying when they died, released a statement about the deaths on Wednesday.
In it, the resort said it was installing carbon monoxide detectors in all guest rooms, and detectors will also be installed in guest rooms across the company's portfolio.
The full statement is below.
We remain devastated by the unimaginable event that occurred at Sandals Emerald Bay Resort earlier this month that resulted in the loss of three lives, including two members of our beloved travel advisor community, and the recovery of a fourth guest. We wish to once again extend our deepest sympathies and our heartfelt condolences to the Phillips and Chiarella families.
Despite initial speculation, Bahamian authorities have concluded the cause was an isolated incident in one standalone structure that housed two individual guest rooms and was in no way linked to the resort’s air conditioning system, food and beverage service, landscaping services or foul play.
Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our guests and team members is and will always be paramount. It is for this reason that we have taken additional measures such as engaging environmental safety experts for a comprehensive review of all systems across the resort. In addition, CO detectors have now been placed in all guest rooms at Sandals Emerald Bay and although not mandated in any Caribbean destination where we operate, detectors will be installed in all guest rooms throughout the portfolio.
Our entire team is keeping the families in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
A specific cause of death of the couple was not yet available from Bahamian authorities.
Previous
A Tennessee couple died at a resort in the Bahamas last week after suddenly falling ill.
According to Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper on May 6, three Americans died and another was airlifted to the hospital.
On Monday, Police Chief Paul Rolle of the Royal Bahamas Police Force identified the three who died, saying investigators are still waiting for autopsy and toxicology lab results to determine what might have caused their deaths. Rolle said he believes medical examiners will have a pathology report within seven days.
Two of the victims, Robbie Phillips, 65, and Mike Phillips, 68, were from Maryville, Tennessee. Rolle said the husband and wife were staying in a villa on the premises of the Sandals Emerald Bay resort in Exuma.
Kali Hanson, their daughter, gave a statement Wednesday evening. It is available below.
"Our hearts are grieving and broken but full of hope. We know our mom and dad are experiencing fullness of joy in our heavenly Father's presence. We already miss them terribly. Our parents left a legacy of faith in Jesus and generously loved their family and friends. Thank you for respecting our family's privacy at this time."
According to their website, Robbie Phillips owned "The Sand Lady," a travel company in Maryville that specialized in vacations at Sandals Resorts. The two had three children and six grandchildren.
The third person who died was identified as Vincent Chiarella from Florida. Rolle said the man's wife, Donnis Chiarella, was the one airlifted to the hospital and is still in serious condition.
Rolle said they do not know yet if the four had anything in common, saying the two couples ate at different places and reported feeling ill at different times.
According to the Associated Press, the health minister, Dr. Michael Darville, told Eyewitness News Bahamas on Saturday that some hotel guests went to a clinic Thursday around 11 p.m. with nausea and vomiting, were treated and left. Three guests were later found dead. A fourth was flown to a hospital.
He said the environmental health scientists, physicians and others were investigating to ensure there was not a public health hazard.
Cooper said foul play "is not suspected." Rolle said investigators collected several samples from the premises to determine if a chemical or food might have been involved in the illnesses but said they will have to wait for lab results.