Americans are being urged to steer clear of jet ski rentals in the Bahamas as U.S.officials warn of sketchy operators linked to deaths, injuries and reported sexual assaults.In a Monday statement, the U.S.
Embassy in the Bahamas said that "rogue operators" are soliciting tourists on Nassau's most popular beaches, including Cabbage Beach, Junkanoo Beach and Saunders Beach.The rogue operators are often "unlicensed, uninsured, and operating unsafe watercraft," the embassy said — and officials noted that law enforcement oversight is "sporadic at best."US ISSUES URGENT TRAVEL WARNING AS DEADLY EBOLA OUTBREAK SPREADS OVERSEAS"The Embassy advises all U.S.citizens to avoid renting jet skis in The Bahamas, beware of solicitors near the Cruise Port and popular beaches, and always follow local weather and marine alerts," the statement said.In a PSA video, U.S.
Ambassador to the Bahamas Herschel Walker began by stating that he had "an important message for Americans visiting or living in the Bahamas."U.S.officials are warning travelers to avoid jet ski rentals in the Bahamas amid recent reports of injuries, deaths and alleged assaults.
(iStock)"I need to warn you about some serious dangers associated with renting jet skis and small watercraft and swimming at beaches where jet skis and small watercraft are being operated in shallow waters, particularly around Nassau and Paradise Island," Walker began."We've lost American lives to preventable accidents.Multiple visitors have been hospitalized."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERWalker also added that American citizens have been sexually assaulted by jet ski operators who allegedly took victims to isolated islands."Many watercraft are unsafe and operators are unlicensed and uninsured," said Walker in his statement. The U.S.
Embassy's warning underscores ongoing concerns about tourist safety and recreational watercraft operations in the Bahamas.(iStock)"That's why U.S.
government employees are banned from r...