A British woman has died in the Bahamas while trying to rescue her two sons after a current swept them away as they were snorkelling.

The Royal Bahamas police force said it had launched an investigation after the death of a 36-year-old woman on Tuesday.

The force said they believed she was snorkelling with her husband and two sons near the southern point of the island of Bimini when a strong current reportedly swept both children away.

The police said that in an attempt to rescue her boys, “the woman was also swept away”. The children were later rescued from the water.

The Foreign Office said it was in contact with the woman’s family and was providing support.

Bimini is a small island between the largest landmass in the Bahamas, Andros, and Miami in the US. It is the closest point in the Bahamas to the US mainland.

The island is best known for once being home to Ernest Hemingway and is also home to a world-leading shark research centre.

In a statementposted on social media, the Royal Bahamas police force said: “According to the preliminary report, shortly after 10am, officers at the Alice Town police station received information that a female was unresponsive at the North Bimini ferry dock.

“Officers responded and, upon arrival, learned that the woman had been transported to the local clinic for medical attention, where she was subsequently pronounced dead by a local doctor despite efforts to save her life.

“Preliminary information indicates that the deceased was snorkelling with her husband and two sons near the southern point of the island when a strong current reportedly swept both children away.

“In an attempt to rescue her sons, the woman was also swept away.

“She was later rescued and transported to the ferry dock, where CPR was reportedly administered. Foul play is not suspected at this time.”

An autopsy would be carried out to help determine the exact cause of death, the statement said.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the family of a British woman who has died in the Bahamas.

“We are in contact with the local authorities and providing support to her family.”