The husband of American tourist Elizabeth Waddell, who has been missing in Grenada since July 22, says he believes drowning may be the most likely explanation for her disappearance, although the family does not know for certain what happened to her.

In a statement issued on August 6, Cailen Waddell said the family has been trying to piece together what happened after Elizabeth was last seen on surveillance at approximately 12:04 pm at Grand Anse Beach on then date she disappeared.

A later sighting reported by two jet-skiers at around 5:30 pm has led the family to believe Elizabeth may have remained in the water for several hours.

According to Cailen, the jet-skiers reported seeing a woman floating and treading water approximately one-third of a mile from shore in Grand Anse Bay. They reportedly spoke with her for five to 10 minutes and tried to convince her to return to shore on a jet ski.

The woman reportedly told them, “I’m a good swimmer,” before giving them a thumbs up.

Cailen said the family believes the woman was most likely Elizabeth, although he acknowledged that they cannot be 100 per cent certain.

“We have no information about Liz after the 5:30 sighting,” he said. “Based on everything we know, it seems drowning may be the most likely scenario.”

However, Cailen said several aspects of the case remain difficult for the family to understand, particularly because Elizabeth was not a strong swimmer.

He said she had taken swimming lessons as an adult but was most comfortable in the water with a flotation device. 

She had brought four flotation devices with her to Grenada and had used two earlier in the trip, but, as far as the family knows, did not have one with her on the day she disappeared.

Cailen said he could not understand how Elizabeth would have reached the location where she was reportedly seen at 5:30 pm, describing the swim as completely out of character and beyond what he believed her swimming abilities allowed.

Elizabeth had been in Grenada since July 11 with a female friend.

The Royal Grenada Police Force has conducted a wide-ranging search for her, including searches by boat and drone, as well as searches of the coastline and wooded areas.

Cailen said the family continues to hope the police investigation will provide answers, particularly about Elizabeth’s movements between the 12:04 pm surveillance footage and the reported 5:30 p.m. sighting.

The family has previously said it did not suspect foul play in Elizabeth’s disappearance.

The investigation by the Royal Grenada Police Force remains active.