A Canadian vacationer’s physique was discovered washed up on a seaside within the Dominican Republic hours after he was reported lacking in mid-June, and his household is asking for monetary help to fly his stays again to Canada.
Dorian Christian MacDonald, 38, was found at about 4:15 a.m. native time on June 20 after reportedly going for a solo stroll on the seaside at about 2 a.m. the identical morning.
MacDonald was on trip alone at a resort in Puerto Plata on the north coast of the island when the deadly incident occurred.
A spokesperson for World Affairs Canada, the federal government division charged with dealing with diplomatic affairs, instructed World Information it’s conscious of the loss of life of a Canadian citizen within the Dominican Republic.
“Consular officers are involved with native authorities and are offering consular help to the household. On account of privateness issues, no additional data could also be disclosed,” the assertion stated.
Tara Mackenzie, a buddy of MacDonald’s, who began a GoFundMe web page on behalf of the sufferer’s household to cowl funeral prices and bills related to returning his physique to his house in Nova Scotia, wrote that his loss of life was a “drowning accident.”
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“Between flights, worldwide paperwork, funeral coordination, preparation of his physique, and all of the pink tape, we’re a value of $10,000–$20,000 simply to get him again. And truthfully? We simply need him out of that chilly system and again the place he belongs—with us,” Mackenzie wrote on the fundraising web page.
“The world feels lots quieter and an entire lot much less vibrant simply figuring out he’s now not part of it.”
Mackenzie described MacDonald as a deeply loving individual.
“Dorian handed out hugs, compliments and I really like you’s as freely as oxygen and all the time wished and was prepared to have a good time any and every thing collectively—birthdays, holidays, infants, wins, losses, and no matter random Tuesday that appeared prefer it wanted to be made a bit bit extra enjoyable,” she wrote.
As of Monday, the GoFundMe has raised $38,000 towards its $40,000 aim.
In March, American pupil and vacationer Sudiksha Konanki, who was additionally vacationing within the Dominican Republic, disappeared after spending a while within the ocean with one other vacationer, Joshua Riibe.
Dominican authorities imagine he was the final identified individual to see Konanki earlier than her March 6 disappearance and withheld his passport for 10 days whereas he was being questioned. Riibe was granted a request for freedom on March 19 after a decide dominated that he might co-operate with the investigation with out being detained.
Riibe, a former lifeguard, says he tried to avoid wasting Konanki’s life after they have been hit by a barrage of waves whereas paddling waist-deep within the ocean collectively and dragged out to sea. He stated he managed to tug her to shore however misplaced her when he started vomiting from swallowing sea water.
Authorities say they imagine Konanki in the end drowned.
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