While the Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean’s most popular tourist destinations, several tourists have been found dead under suspicious circumstances in recent months
A tourist has been found dead on a beach in the Dominican Republic last week.
Dorian Christian MacDonald was tragically discovered dead in the waters off a beach in Maimon Bay last week while holidaying in the Dominican Republic’s popular Puerto Plata resort town, according to CTV News.
The 38-year-old as staying at a hotel in Puerto Plata on the island’s north coast but was last seen alive shortly before 2am on Friday, June 20. In the early hours of the morning MacDonald, of Nova Scotia, Canada, reportedly took a short late-night walk alone on a beach.
Tragically, that would be the last time he was seen alive, as just an hour later, a harrowing 911 call was placed reporting a missing person. Both police personnel and Civil Defense – a government agency that supports local law enforcement with naval operations – arrived at the scene, where they discovered MacDonald’s body in the water during high tide just after 4am.
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According to a GoFundMe page set up by his loved ones the Canadian tourist tragically died from a sudden and unexpected drowning.
A message on the page read: “On June 20th, while vacationing in the Dominican Republic, Dorian died suddenly in a drowning accident. He was only 38 years old. And now, the world feels a lot quieter and a whole lot less vibrant just knowing he’s no longer a part of it.”
In a heartbreaking tribute to Dorian a message on the page read: “He wasn’t just a friend. He was my brother in every way but blood—and maybe more so than some who share it. And I know I’m FAR from the only person who feels that way about him.
“Dorian handed out hugs, compliments and I love you’s as freely as oxygen and always wanted and was willing to celebrate any and everything together—birthdays, holidays, babies, wins, losses, and whatever random Tuesday that seemed like it needed to be made a little bit more fun.
“He was that person, his presence felt like it would just always be there. And now, somehow, just like that, he’s gone…”
A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada (GAC) told CTV News that the department ‘is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in the Dominican Republic,’ but ‘due to privacy considerations, no further information may be disclosed.’
Now, MacDonald’s family and close friends – are tirelessly working to bring his body back home to Nova Scotia, with the fundraiser launched to support the difficult process.
The page says: “The process of repatriating someone from another country is a slow, expensive and deeply complicated situation that I wish on no one. Between flights, international paperwork, funeral coordination, preparation of his body and all the red tape, we’re looking at a cost of $10,000–$20,000 just to get him back.”
While the Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean’s most popular tourist destinations, several tourists have been found dead under suspicious circumstances – including unexplained drownings and mysterious disappearances from guarded beaches.
You can donate to the GoFundMe page by clicking here.