American couple chasing retirement dream in Bahamas boating mystery were 'inexperienced': Friend

Tune in to Fox and Friends Wednesday morning to see more of Griff Jenkins' interview with Lynette Hooker's daughter.

HOPE TOWN, Bahamas —The American woman who went missing in the Bahamas after her husband said she fell off a small boat had been living out her retirement dream of sailing when tragedy struck, according to a friend. Along the way, the couple had been building a social media following and forging connections across the country.

Lynette Hooker, 55 and her husband, Brian Hooker, 58, left Hope Town's Abaco Inn at around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, four minutes after the sunset that night on a small boat headed to their yacht in Elbow Cay, according to Bahamian officials.

Brian Hooker reportedly told officials that while the couple were on the smaller boat, known as a dinghy, Lynette fell into the water with the ignition key, causing the engine to shut off. The current carried her away, according to Brian, who paddled back to a marina at Marsh Harbor. He reported Lynette missing at around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday.

John Waters, who is friends with the couple, told Fox News Digital he met Lynette and at an oyster bar in Panama City Bea...