RIP Paige Bell. Credit: Facebook, Crew & Concierge
A 20-year-old South African woman has been murdered aboard a luxury superyacht docked in the Bahamas, sparking shock and grief across the global yachting community.
Paige Bell, 20, was found dead and “covered in blood” onboard the £9.5m (€11.2m) yacht ‘Far From It.’
Paige Bell, originally from Johannesburg, was discovered dead in the engine room of the 43.4-metre charter yacht, which had been moored at Harbour Island, Bahamas, on Thursday, July 3, 2025. According to police, her body was found with “visible signs of injuries”, and nearby lay a 39-year-old Mexican engineer with “severe injuries to his arms” and a knife in hand, as reported by The Standard.
Bell worked as a guest relations officer aboard the yacht which costs around £120,000 (€141,000) per week to charter. Friends had reportedly planned a lavish 21st birthday party for her on the yacht the following day.
Suspect charged with murder following alleged suicide attempt
Officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force were alerted at around 1pm and boarded the vessel, where a local doctor pronounced Bell dead at the scene. The suspect was found alive but bleeding heavily beside her. He was taken into custody and has now been charged with her murder.
A police spokesperson confirmed: “We can confirm that a 39-year-old Mexican national will be arraigned before magistrates today charged with murder which stem from the death of a 20-year-old South African. She was found on board a vessel at Harbour Island, Eleuthera, on Thursday, July 3.”
The tragedy has deeply shaken the yachting industry. Paige’s former crew on the 38.2-metre yacht Emocean issued a heartfelt statement:
“Paige was more than a teammate, she was family. Her radiant spirit, infectious laughter, and boundless compassion made an unforgettable impact on everyone lucky enough to know her,” Boat International.
Her devastated family, who have travelled to the Bahamas, said:
“This evening mom and dad are flying to the Bahamas to begin the painful process of not only bringing their baby girl home but also seeking justice for the monster that took her life” (Cited by The Standard.)
They described the upcoming legal process in a foreign country as “complex and costly,” and urged the public for help via donations.
“This heartbreaking loss has been deeply felt by everyone who knew and loved ‘Paigey’ – her former captain, the boat owner, all the crew on board and our entire community.”
A GoFundMe page has been launched to support the Bell family with travel and legal costs.
‘Billionaires’ Backyard’ under scrutiny
Harbour Island, where the killing occurred, is a three-mile-long retreat east of Nassau often dubbed the “Billionaires’ Backyard”. It’s a favourite getaway for celebrities including Bill Gates, Mick Jagger, and the Kardashians.
This murder has drawn unexpected attention to the dark underside of the luxury yacht world – one that rarely faces headlines beyond glamour and lavishness.
With a murder trial ahead, some are asking: What protection do crew members really have in these elite but isolated floating workplaces?
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