Prayers pour in for Miles College graduate critically injured in Bahamas boat accident: ‘Hannah is love’

A recent Miles College summa cum laude graduate was flown back to the U.S. Wednesday after she was critically injured while on a celebratory Carnival Cruise with her longtime best friend.

On Monday, the first day of her vacation, 22-year-old Hannah Smith fell off a boat while on a day excursion with fellow cruise passengers during a stop in the Bahamas.

She was rushed to Doctors Hospital in Nassau, where she underwent two surgeries.

Earlier today, she was airlifted to an undisclosed Level 1 trauma center in the U.S.

“She’s still critical,” said her mother, Tracy.

“It’s going to be a very lengthy recovery and it’s definitely going to entail a lot of physical therapy. And it’s going to be long term.”

Asked if doctors had provided a prognosis for Hannah, Tracy said, “Most of the doctors are telling us because she’s critically ill, they can’t tell us one way or another.”

The Smith family lives in Tennessee.

Hannah, an artist, graduated from Miles College on May 3 with a degree in communications, and a focus on graphic design.

She and best friend, Brooklyn Pitre, planned the cruise to mark their accomplishments.

Brooklyn just graduated from a Florida college.

“They’d both been working really hard, and they graduated,” Tracy said.

While on their first excursion on Monday, Hannah fell off a boat – not the cruise ship. Though she fell into the water, she struck something on the way down.

“There were some passengers with her on the boat that helped her,” Tracy said. “They helped save her life.”

Tracy learned of the accident when Brooklyn texted her from Hannah’s phone, and Tracy realized she’d had a missed call.

“I was with my oldest daughter. She heard the tone in my voice,” Tracy said.

“She said my face dropped, and she felt like there was a whole change in the room and she knew something was wrong.”

Tracy could not get a flight to the Bahamas Monday night, but booked the first one available, which was at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

“You don’t sleep, you don’t eat,” Tracy said. “You pray, and all you want to do is see your baby.”

When Tracy and her oldest daughter, Abigail, arrived in Nassau, they were able to see Hannah immediately.

“At that point, she was sedated, and she required a lot of blood,” Tracy said.

“It was less about her injuries and more about saving her life.”

“They did inform me that when she arrived at the hospital, she was in shock due to the heavy blood loss,” Tracy said.

Hannah’s blood type is O-negative, which is rare.

A blood drive was held in the Bahamas to help get Hannah the blood she needed.

Tracy did not want to detail Hannah’s injuries but said there are several. “That’s why we’re at a trauma center,” she said.

“They were able to get her the blood she needs and save her life and get her stable enough to get her back to the states,” Tracy said.

“They’re working to continue to save her life and repair some of the damage.”

Hannah’s sedation was briefly lowered Tuesday, and she opened her eyes. The nurse told Hannah that her mother was there.

“She saw us and nodded her head, recognized us,” Tracy said through tears. “I was just so thankful, so very thankful that she knew she wasn’t by herself.”

Hannah remains sedated. Her family is with her at the hospital, as is Brooklyn.

“She won’t be alone,” Tracy said. “She’s going to have an army behind her.”

Tracy said she and the family are overwhelmed by the support they’ve received.

“So many people have offered any sort of help, even if it’s praying for us which, honestly, has been the biggest help,” she said.

“I had a post where I asked people to pray, and let those prayers number the stars in the sky and they are helping us,” Tracy said. “I know they are.”

“What works in her favor is Hannah is strong, she’s led a pretty healthy lifestyle with her eating, her working out, her taking care of her body, her diet, and her outlook on life. And her spirituality,” she said.

Hannah was very involved at Miles College.

Miles College posted this on Facebook:

“Sending our deepest prayers and support to recent graduate Hannah Smith, Summa Cum Laude Class of 2025, who is currently in critical condition in Nassau, Bahamas. Hannah exemplifies the Golden Standard, and we are believing in her full recovery. We ask our Miles family and extended community to keep her lifted in prayer and to support however you can.”

Aside from her school and art, Tracy said, Hannah’s sorority – Delta Sigma Theta – is one of the most important things to her.

Sorority sisters from all over have reached out to the Smith family, and members from the Bahamas chapter showed up at the Nassau hospital to visit the family.

“She’s going to appreciate that,” Tracy said.

“That type of support from her sisters is going to mean so much to her and it did to our family. They showed up and showed out.”

“It’s been a windfall of people whose lives she has touched that have reached out,” she said. “She just brings joy to people.”

Tracy is also thankful for Brooklyn, who is obviously shaken over the ordeal.

“She was alone in another country with her friend,” she said, “and she held it down.”

“I have to credit (Brooklyn) for holding her composure enough to be our eyes and ears until we got there,” Tracy said. “I let her know she went through something too, and she can let go now, because we got her too.”

A GoFundMe has been started to help with Hannah’s lengthy recovery. Donations can be made here.

Another sister, Rachel, posted this about Hannah on the fundraising site:

“Hannah is light. Hannah is love. Hannah is absolutely her,” Rachel wrote.

“Our little sister is nothing short of a headache, but we wouldn’t want her any other way. She is literally the strongest of us all.”

“We’re praying you continue to be the strongest and fight for your life, your dreams and aspirations,” she wrote.

“This boating accident will not define your life. We need you to have many more birthdays, more holidays, more life experiences. We love you endlessly.”