The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

AN American tourist says a man who approached her at Goodman’s Bay posing as a jet ski operator punched her in the face hours later after she rejected his sexual advances, leaving her bloodied and questioning whether she will ever return to The Bahamas.

Police confirmed that the woman filed a complaint and said the matter is under investigation. The Royal Bahamas Police Force has also issued a wanted poster for the man in connection with the incident.

Briana Bazel, 25, of Ohio, said she and her best friend met the man on September 11 after an online jet ski excursion they had booked before travelling to New Providence was cancelled.

Ms Bazel said the man approached them on the beach, presented himself as a jet ski operator and tour guide and offered them a package that included sightseeing and jet ski rides.

She alleged that later that night, after the group continued socialising, he became angry when she made clear she did not intend to have sex with him and punched her in the face outside a lounge.

Ms Bazel said she and her friend arrived in New Providence on September 10 for their first visit to The Bahamas and left four days later.

The trip was intended as a celebration and marked her friend’s first journey outside the United States.

Ms Bazel, who said she has travelled extensively, told The Tribune she had never experienced a physical assault while travelling.

“I don’t know if I’ll be back anytime soon, I should say,” Ms Bazel said from Ohio. “Especially if these men, like, if nothing’s getting done about it.”

“From what I’ve heard,” she said, “there are known criminals out there, and nothing gets done about it.”

Her account gained wider attention after she posted a TikTok video about the incident. The video, which begins with Ms Bazel bloodied and holding tissue against her swollen lip, had attracted about 54,000 views up to press time.

Ms Bazel said she and her friend had booked jet skis online before their trip, but the excursion was cancelled about two hours after they arrived.

The following day, while waiting at Goodman’s Bay, she said the man approached them and offered sightseeing and jet ski rides. He also referred his cousin to the women as a taxi driver.

Ms Bazel said the men showed them badges that appeared to identify them as legitimate operators, although she now questions whether the identification was genuine.

She said the experience proceeded without incident for most of the day as the women went sightseeing, visited restaurants and rode jet skis.

Later that night, Ms Bazel and her friend encountered the men at Green Parrot. They allegedly offered to take the women to a lounge on Palm Tree Avenue.

Ms Bazel said the man’s behaviour changed after she told her friend she had begun her menstrual cycle.

She alleged that he became angry and questioned why she had mentioned it.

The man later asked to speak with her outside the lounge, away from the loud music.

“He said that he didn’t like the comment I made about like me being on my cycle,” Ms Bazel said, “because he felt like I was using that as like an excuse to not have sex with him.”

Ms Bazel said she told him she had never intended to have sex with him.

She alleged that he then grabbed her arm and punched her in the face when she pulled away.

“I immediately started bleeding like as soon as he did it,” Ms Bazel said, “and there were people outside. Nobody did anything, nobody helped.”

She said she repeatedly asked why he had hit her and was afraid to fight back because he became more aggressive.

Ms Bazel ran into the lounge to find her friend and the taxi driver. She recalled people leaving after seeing her injured face.

Someone from the establishment took the women to a police station, where Ms Bazel filed a complaint.

She said a police officer later took her to hospital and a hospital worker drove her back to their Airbnb.

“I was definitely in a lot of pain because where he punched me, my tooth is sharp right there, so it completely cut my top lip open,” she said.

Ms Bazel said eating and drinking were initially difficult, although her mouth has been healing since she returned to Ohio.

The alleged assault did not occur during the jet ski excursion itself. However, the circumstances have again drawn attention to who operates in the watercraft and beach-tourism sector and whether people presenting themselves to visitors as operators are properly licensed.

The US State Department has repeatedly warned travellers about risks associated with jet ski and personal watercraft operations in The Bahamas. Its current travel information says some operators are not licensed or insured and refers to sexual assaults, injuries and deaths associated with the industry. US government employees are prohibited from renting jet skis or personal watercraft from independent operators.

Those warnings intensified amid a series of reported sexual assaults involving American tourists and jet ski operators in recent years.

In April 2025, an American woman reported that she was raped after encountering a jet ski operator near Junkanoo Beach, and a man was subsequently charged in connection with that allegation.

Yesterday, Transport Minister Leon Lundy said it had not yet been established whether the man she encountered was a licensed operator.

Mr Lundy said he was concerned about the allegation and hoped Ms Bazel was receiving the support she needed.

He said the matter was now in the hands of police and encouraged anyone who has experienced harassment or violence to make a report.

Mr Lundy said the ministry takes enforcement of its laws and regulations seriously and would assist police before taking any action within its authority once the facts are established.

Ms Bazel said other female tourists contacted her after seeing her video and alleged that they had also been harassed or scammed by the same man and taxi driver.

She said she initially decided she would never return to The Bahamas, although meeting several “great Bahamians” towards the end of the trip left her divided.

“Until it seems like there’s going to be something done about it,” she said, “I don’t think I would come back or even recommend people to go there.”

Tourism Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said social media commentary portraying The Bahamas negatively was naturally concerning, particularly when it related to an allegation of this nature.

“My thoughts are with the young woman involved,” Mrs Hanna-Martin said, “and I sincerely hope she is receiving the care and support she needs following what must have been a very difficult experience.”

“We are mindful of the impact incidents such as this can have on our tourism industry. We await the outcome of the police investigation and will allow the facts to guide any further action.”