Family Continues to Seek Answers in Case of Mysterious Drowning

The family of an American man who was found floating in waters off of Scotland Cay on July 29 is desperately seeking answers to the circumstances that led to his death, according to the family’s representative.

The 23 year-old Texas Tech graduate, Mason Hart, had recently started working on a 60-foot yacht for the summer.

Over a week ago, Police Affairs and Communications Officer Inspector Terecita Pinder said that the results of the autopsy were “consistent with drowning,” but the matter has been forwarded to the Coroner’s Court.

Friend of the family, Stacey Wasek, says while Bahamian authorities have been updating the family, they still do not know what happened. Wasek adds that Hart was like a son to her. She also says the family wants to have an independent autopsy done, and that they suspect foul play.

“Right now we are just kind of holding [on] waiting for them to come back with any additional information, if they have any other leads,” she explains. “So far, we have just been asked to kind of hang tight.”

Wasek describes Mason as a loving and generous person and believes his generosity may have led to his death.

“He was such a sweet person, and sensitive,” she says. “If you hurt, he hurt. He was a people pleaser. He wanted everyone to be happy. Mason lit up a room when he walked in. He was just that type of person. People gravitated towards him.”

The dinghy Mason had been traveling in and his personal belongings have not been found. His body was found roughly 24 hours after he last spoke to family and friends.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to fund an effort to bring Hart’s body back to the U.S. and support his relatives. The page describes Hart as “driven, passionate, sweet and loved by many.”