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BiggerBoat with tourists sinks in the reef area of Cabeza de Toro beach
Update:
A Canadian tourist is missing after the Hunter, a 28-foot-long tourist fishing boat, and other unknown generals sank near the Cabeza de Toro beach reefs. According to Diario Libre, the missing tourist has been identified as Canadian national James Gordon William, 40. In the boat with him were Dominican Captain Brenis Miguel Calcao, 42, and Canadian tourists André Rondeau, 53, Wayne Roger Boudreault, 43, and John Francis Joseph, 63. Also present was Daryl Christopher Fournier, 36. The four tourists who were rescued by authorities were transported to the Punta Cana Medical Center.
André Rondeau presented with rib trauma and a fracture of the seventh rib on the left rib, according to the medical diagnosis of this entity. While Roger Boudreault appears to be unharmed, Francis Joseph exhibits “incomplete drowning.” Finally, Christopher Fournier exhibits symptoms of “complete drowning,” mild head trauma, and healed chest trauma. It should be noted that Wayne Roger Boudreault and the boat’s captain, Brenis Miguel Calcaño, were not admitted because they were unharmed.
According to their statements, the incident occurred when a large wave struck the stern of the boat, causing it to capsize. Colonel Kelvin Durán Balaguer, the deputy director of the Tourism Police (Politur) in Bávaro, boarded a helicopter and conducted an aerial survey at the scene, where he could be located two nautical miles from the port of Cabeza de Toro to the damaged vessel. The boat is upright, but the missing tourist has yet to be found due to the bad weather and strong waves that are currently in the area. The captain of the boat, as well as the boat’s owner, Aristis Sosa Batista, a 35-year-old Dominican, are being held at the Cabeza de Toro Navy detachment for investigation.
Related:
Canadian tourist disappeared in the waters of Cabeza de Toro, Punta Cana
This is a tragedy that could have been avoided. There were small craft warnings issued for the area because of high winds and waves. It is anybody’s guess why the captain of the vessel ventured out in risky conditions. In many cases it is need of obtaining $$$.$$ overcoming staying at the mooring. Also, for the tourists the excitement of going on a fishing expedition or any other touristy activity in an exotic foreign country sometimes clouds their sense of personal safety.
An advice to tourists is know what you’re getting into. If your first thought is something is amiss, then there is something amiss. Rely on your instincts.
It is noteworthy, there is a navy detachment at Cabeza de Toro.
It has not been fully confirmed as of yet but a body was recovered Monday at the Jellyfish beach in Bavaro. Jellyfish beach is sandwiched between the Lopesan and Melia resorts. The authorities are treating the recovered body as that of Canadian James Gordon William Dewitt. May he RIP.
This is why life jackets should have been on that boat and a priority incase of something like this but not only that the tour guide was even told not to take anyone out on the water due to the weather