Young Canadian boy dies in Puerto Plata!

[PeachezNcream84]

as reported in the Niagara Falls newspaper the tour was to the "Imbert Waterfalls".

I can't find the link I read it on, but that was the spot.

Another story reported the following:
Originally Posted by Niagra Falls Review

Vacation tragedy for Falls family Adam Vitaterna, 11, drowns as family watches

By JOHN LAW
Local News - Tuesday, January 11, 2005 @ 02:00

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentID=93230&catname=Local+News

There was nothing in the Toronto Star about that that I could see...

Although I feel awful for the family and the boy I think the article in the Niagra Newspaper is rubbish!

I have a picture in front of thoes falls in the DR1 member gallery. And many more pictures...we brought my digital camera all wrapped up in plastic bags. Thoes are wonderful falls, and if you use some thinking ability and realize it has been raining your whole trip..maybe water falls are not the best place to be.

This said, maybe they shouldn't be taking tourists up to falls at this time of year. But they need to make money, and rain is not gonna stop them from taking people. I bet the family and everyone else on the tour signed papers releaving the tour company from any liability.

Think how many 100's of people have gone there even after rains...and this is the first reported thing I have ever heard about the falls where someone has been injured.

In the article:
"Little do we know what?s outside the walls of the resort. You?re playing with fire. " - What sort of comment is that???? 1000's and 1000's of tourists make there way safely through the "fire" of Puerto Plata every week.

"the family made a frantic trip through the brush. Andrew recalls having to step over barbed wires, finding it odd a tour company wouldn?t remove them. " - This is a public area where anyone can go. Why would they expect the tour company to go through and clean up after anyone who may have been there before each tour???? Last time I took the walk up there it was lovely...except for the mosquitos. The walk is not the easiest, it's not a paved path...but it looks very natural, which is a nice change from some "nature walks" with all paved trails. Depends on what you like I guess.

"The tour guide lawyer approached Andrew with condolences. He was then brought to a ?shady looking? police station to give a statement. " - Just because it does not look like a police station in Canada..does not mean it's "shady"!!!!!!

"Before he returned home, Andrew warned as many people as possible to stay away from the tours. "We have to let people know that these tours are falsely advertised,? he says. ?I ended up walking on the beach and talking to every couple I could find with children. ?I think Adam?s death saved a couple of people that week.? " - As I said..I empathize deeply with the family and am very sorry for their loss, and I guess a loss that awful wouldn't make you think the most rationally...but really...1000's of people have taken the same tour and are fine! I have recommneded these exact waterfalls to many people, and everyone who has went on it, came back RAVING about how beautiful it was!

I hope I do not come across as being unsympathetic...but I don't like to see blaime being put in the wrong place...It was a tragic accident, and a very unfortunate event...but it is deffinatly not a common occurance, and I think the way the article is worded deffinatly sheds unecessiary negativity on going to this beautiful place....

 

[FireGuy]

Thanks Lambada,

Well, they could, Gregg, but it wouldn't help. Website is way out of date. The 'owner' on that web page, Rosemary, is a friend of mine, so I called her. She sold Alegria a while back. The office in Separacion no longer exists (thought that photo looked a bit out of date!). The phone number on out of date website gives you a recorded message for the Ovalles family! (no connection).

The new Alegria Tours office is in Plaza Turisol, near UPS office, I was told. Rosemary didn't have their number as they installed phone after they had bought company & moved. I don't have time today to pop over to Plaza Turisol, but planner if you're nearby may be you could enquire?

for setting me straight.

Gregg

 

[RSowell]

How can you say the article is "rubbish" im from Niagara Falls i have never been to the DR but i am really close with the family of Adam Vitaterna, i have known the boy since he was 6 years old, and he and his family are very nice people, i cant believe you can post these comments after this tragedy?


Adam you will always be remembered in all of our hearts in Niagara Falls

 

[Lambada]

As you know the family, perhaps you could convey all of our deep condolences?

And I disagree with those who say the tourists should have known better. It's all too easy for us who live here to know the effects of increased rainfall. But how can a tourist be expected to know this? If you are told 'waterfalls' it may not even occur to you that there could be a strong current due to increased rain........unless you know the set up at Imbert, how would you be in possession of that information?
All this is presupposing that the drowning occurred as a result of the current, rather than, say, an injury to the head, getting one's feet trapped in a crevice etc etc.

I think when one reads the newspaper articles one has to try & visualise the father's reactions as a mixture of grief, anger, impotence that he couldn't save his son, guilt etc etc I don't think he ever said it wasn't a beautiful place............it's just that his concerns & priorities would have been elsewhere.

 

[BushBaby]

Looking at it from a slightly different perspective ......

And anybody with half a brain understands that if it has been raining as much as it had over the past number of weeks, you don't go to the Imbert falls...

Chris,
If your comment above is levied at the tour company concerned, then I totally agree with you. They should have been responsible enough to warn their clients of the possible dangers. I do NOT however, think that you can expect the client to know what the dangers are prior to visiting the area - they don't know the area & they don't know the levels that the waterfalls get to. Having tour guided this tour in the very early days of it's usage, I would doubt whether the falls really get to a level of causing DANGER from normal usage of the falls - this had to be a freak accident that we have yet to learn about. Maybe the son caught his head on something & got concussed, maybe his angle of entry caused him to go too deep when jumping in & got stuck in a build up of mud, maybe he got his foot caught in the rocks beneath & then panicked, or maybe just had some form of seisure on entering the water!! This might come to light if there is an autopsy back in Canada!!

In fairness I must say that EVERYONE who went UP the waterfalls had to go through the stream area first on their way UP. If there was serious danger from the current or excess flow of water, this should have been noticed on the way up & an alternative way down recommended by the tour guides. The people going UP obviously didn't recognise any danger & consequently chose to JUMP into the pool area below.

I would TOTALLY concur that there was insufficient safety precautions by the tour guides in that there does not appear to have been anyone in the pool beneath in the case of a freak accident & I would also agree that the tour guides didn't react quickly enough to the boy not re-appearing after jumping in - the same can be said for the parent! If it were MY offspring, I think I would have been in the water within seconds of him/her not coming up rather than yelling for someone else to do the 'rescuing'. This is NOT being unsympathetic, it is being honest! This train of thought can extend further to me making sure I was in the pool waiting to see my offspring come down, rather than watching him/her from above!!

In ALL, a VERY unfortunate occurence & one I HOPE (but don't hold too much expectations for) will cause a new code for how guests are taken up those falls. Further, the Tour Companies that SELL the tour, must ensure that they - or their nominated representatives - take all neccessary precautions to GUIDE the tour responsibly. As I say, I don't hold out too much hope that this will be the case, it will just get forgotten until the AUTHORITIES insist on more stringent saftey precautions!! ~ Grahame.

 

[Chris]

...Anybody with 'half a brain'. Obviously I am not referring to a tourist family who understood that they know nothing about the countryside, but placed their trust and their lives in the hands of a tour company to show them around the countryside. I do think that they have the right to a safe and appropriate experience. Surely everybody local must have known to avoid the falls until the waters from the rain subsided - the tour company, the guides, the people who live nearby...?

Recently during much rain, we were travelling through an area prone to flash flooding - a low lying small river jumped its banks. What looked like the full compliment of the inhabitants of the village were outside in the rain to direct traffic, to warn people not to cross and to give the word when things were safe enough to cross -- and they knew what was safe and what was not.

Somebody must have known that they were taking a chance with the lives of people who trusted them. I would not go up or down the Imbert falls with as much rain as we've had... How can a tour guiding operation not know this? Perhaps it could have been a freak accident as you say, but this tour was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

[Hlywud]

PeachezNcream84

I posted the Niagara Falls news report to help provide more details of this tragedy, to say that it is "rubbish" is an incomprehensible statement on your part. It is a news article, your comments are unwarranted.

We are not sure of all the details and can only speculate on what happened from the reports that we read.

It is a tragedy that such a young life has been lost and I can understand the fathers comments in his time of grief.

RSowell, please pass along my condolences to the family.

 

[planner]

Time for some restructuring

It is an absolutely unfortunate and preventable occurance.

While tour guides are trained on tourism the country etc, they have NO formal first aid training. The tour company operating this excursion is absolutely focused on making money! There is no way this excursion should be operating with the kinds of rains we have been having!!! Someone in authority needs to stop it, right now!

There needs to be some changes in this country with regards to tours, tour operators, tour guides, ground handlers etc!!! I have only been in the business here for 18 months - but I could already write a book!!!

I've done this waterfall climb 12 times. In most conditions it is fairly safe but you climb at your own risk. I would never climb in this weather with the rains we have had. BUT, I have knowledge beforehand. That family had none!

My most sincere condolences to the family!

I also understand that a lot of comments are made by people who are grieving that they may not think thru clearly. It is unfortunate but these people are in massive amounts of pain.

I will try to get over to the tour operator offices later today and let you know what I find out, if anything.

 

[Chris]

Thanks Planner - you said more clearly what I was trying to say - this excursion should not have happened with all the rains.

I wonder if FireGuy over at Debbies Dominican Travel could post a note of caution in that forum for starters? We've had much rain, waterfalls should be avoided until the rivers have subsided.

 

[FireGuy]

Thanks Planner - you said more clearly what I was trying to say - this excursion should not have happened with all the rains.

I wonder if FireGuy over at Debbies Dominican Travel could post a note of caution in that forum for starters? We've had much rain, waterfalls should be avoided until the rivers have subsided.

Consider it done!

Gregg

 

[planner]

Thanks Chris. BTW I was at Playa Dorada Plaza yesterday and many companies are still selling the waterfall trip! No one seems to care at all. IT is all about money.

This year has been particularly hard here. IT appears that the pay structure for representatives has been changed. MOst are paid a lower base salary and higher commissions. People who sell for "pirates" and independents are paid almost exclusively commissions.

A combination of higher prices, lower tourist volumes then expected, bad weather and steeper competition and there is huge pressure to sell excursions. Tourists are not buying much right now. People are sellingwhatever they can with little thought to the consequences.

 

[Cheetah]

From the Father

I need info about this traggic accident. It occured on Jan. 5. The family is close to some friends of mine and they had trouble with some details while there. Thought I could help by posting.

Here is my story

While on a vacation in the Dominican Republic with my family, my son Adam, 11 yrs old died while on a dangerous Jeep Safari tour sold by Alegria Tours s.a., licensed by Jack Tar/Occidental.

The tour was to travel the countryside and finish at the highlight of the tour which involves climbing and jumping off waterfalls at Damajagua. I wanted my 3 children to experience how 3rd world children live so they could appreciate what they have.

The tour was advertised as being fun and safe for children by a licensed operator !

The first river was waist high with a strong current. Groups of 5 held hands with the instructor. ( later web site videos show this river shin high)

It was a 20 minute walk into the jungle to get to the first water fall.

The second and last waterfall we swam below was very turbulent, it had rained on a daily basis over the last 14 days. My son Adam was next in line to sail downstream with the current with a smile on his face only to be sucked in under water. He was a strong swimmer. My second son, a 13 yr old made it through just after Adam.

I hollered to the instructors to rescue Adam but they spent many minutes arguing with each other.

The brave lady who jumped in said she felt the undertow pull her under. She touched Adam but was worried about her own life. Eventually his body was pulled out and attempts to resuscitate him by other tourists failed.

We then had to make the long 20 min journey back to the parking lot, over barbed wire fences, my dead son on a stretcher.

The ambulance transported my son to the hospital and my wife and I were driven in one of the tour trucks to the hospital.

We were immediately met at the hospital by the tour operator lawyer who said he was there to help us through things like this. I was immediately suspicious. I know he was there to cause interference.

He took me to the police station for questioning. The power was off at the police station, I did not know where I was , walking down long dark hallways, until we came into a dark room with 2 candles.

They did not ask me any questions and the lawyer did all the talking to the so-called officer, It was in spanish.

The lawyer said we could go back to the hospital and said I was lucky to have him there because he said the officer wanted to keep me there for questioning all night so he told him it was only an accident. A few days later the police report indicated that Adam died while in a swimming accident with his father ,failing to mention anything about the tour.. A total lie.

I then commenced my own crusade. Can you believe that the day after Adam's death ,that very same tour was being sold and still being advertised as being safe for children by Alegria and other operators, ( many of the adults in our group had difficulty battling the currents)

I have video footage of my discussions with these tour operators telling me the tours were safe. Also,I intercepted many families with kids warning them of these tours. One family told me they were just told the waterfalls were safe for their 6 yr old son who could not swim. I immediately tracked down that tour operator and gave him some unkind words

Later , a local Domincan, and a reliable source told me there have been many broken bones on these tours in the past, and reluctantly told me there were a few deaths. How long has this cover up been occuring?

Some companies do not go the Damajagua.

I have been in close contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa and the Canadian Embassy in Santo Domingo.The Embassy has already issued a Canada Wide Travel advisory on their web site and have notified all tour companies throughout Canada. They are investigating the matter themselves and were surprised when I told them the name of the tour company who was licensed by Occidental, the owners of Jack Tar.

They said they will try to shut down the tours, however they think that the Economic incentives will outweigh safety. At minimum they plan on improving the safety of these tours and possibly get funding and implement the program in honor of Adam's name.

Money is being poured into these resorts, someone is making money, but why all ther poverty outside . Why can't money be diverted to improving health and safety, and way of living.

I indicated I wanted to be a part of that program.

I am on an awareness mission and will do whatever it takes to do it. The Embassy encouraged me to do so.

We have started a sports scholorship in Adam's name to support underpriviledeged children.

I beleive Adam's death has already saved a few lives.

I have been talking to W5, fifth estate etc and hope to get the message out.

 

[bochinche]

i am sorry for you and your family's loss and for what it's worth my family and i send our condolences.
i cannot imagine how all of you must feel.
as a father, reading your story has sent shivers down my back.
the actions of the tour companies are scandalous........................even murderous if they know deaths have happened before.

i don't know what else i could say to provide any sort of comfort ......................but i do hope many more positive things come from this terrible, terrible tragedy and adam is remembered for a long time to come.

 

[trina]

Cheetah, as a fellow Canadian (Calgarian), parent, and someone with strong ties to the DR, I want to give you my deepest condolences. Nothing I can say to you will help ease your sorrow in this time of need. I have also been to these falls, however, under very different circumstances. The tour operators know the risk they are taking during times of heavy rainfall, but it's all about the almighty dollar. God bless you and your family, and please keep on doing what you are doing. You now have another angel watching over you.

 

[Cheetah]

FromAdam's Dad

I need info about this traggic accident. It occured on Jan. 5. The family is close to some friends of mine and they had trouble with some details while there. Thought I could help by posting.

Here is my story

While on a vacation in the Dominican Republic with my family, my son Adam, 11 yrs old died while on a dangerous Jeep Safari tour sold by Alegria Tours s.a., licensed by Jack Tar/Occidental.

The tour was to travel the countryside and finish at the highlight of the tour which involves climbing and jumping off waterfalls at Damajagua. I wanted my 3 children to experience how 3rd world children live so they could appreciate what they have.

The tour was advertised as being fun and safe for children by a licensed operator !

The first river was waist high with a strong current. Groups of 5 held hands with the instructor. ( later web site videos show this river shin high)

It was a 20 minute walk into the jungle to get to the first water fall.

The second and last waterfall we swam below was very turbulent, it had rained on a daily basis over the last 14 days. My son Adam was next in line to sail downstream with the current with a smile on his face only to be sucked in under water. He was a strong swimmer. My second son, a 13 yr old made it through just after Adam.

I hollered to the instructors to rescue Adam but they spent many minutes arguing with each other.

The brave lady who jumped in said she felt the undertow pull her under. She touched Adam but was worried about her own life. Eventually his body was pulled out and attempts to resuscitate him by other tourists failed.

We then had to make the long 20 min journey back to the parking lot, over barbed wire fences, my dead son on a stretcher.

The ambulance transported my son to the hospital and my wife and I were driven in one of the tour trucks to the hospital.

We were immediately met at the hospital by the tour operator lawyer who said he was there to help us through things like this. I was immediately suspicious. I know he was there to cause interference.

He took me to the police station for questioning. The power was off at the police station, I did not know where I was , walking down long dark hallways, until we came into a dark room with 2 candles.

They did not ask me any questions and the lawyer did all the talking to the so-called officer, It was in spanish.

The lawyer said we could go back to the hospital and said I was lucky to have him there because he said the officer wanted to keep me there for questioning all night so he told him it was only an accident. A few days later the police report indicated that Adam died while in a swimming accident with his father ,failing to mention anything about the tour.. A total lie.

I then commenced my own crusade. Can you believe that the day after Adam's death ,that very same tour was being sold and still being advertised as being safe for children by Alegria and other operators, ( many of the adults in our group had difficulty battling the currents)

I have video footage of my discussions with these tour operators telling me the tours were safe. Also,I intercepted many families with kids warning them of these tours. One family told me they were just told the waterfalls were safe for their 6 yr old son who could not swim. I immediately tracked down that tour operator and gave him some unkind words

Later , a local Domincan, and a reliable source told me there have been many broken bones on these tours in the past, and reluctantly told me there were a few deaths. How long has this cover up been occuring?

Some companies do not go the Damajagua.

I have been in close contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa and the Canadian Embassy in Santo Domingo.The Embassy has already issued a Canada Wide Travel advisory on their web site and have notified all tour companies throughout Canada. They are investigating the matter themselves and were surprised when I told them the name of the tour company who was licensed by Occidental, the owners of Jack Tar.

They said they will try to shut down the tours, however they think that the Economic incentives will outweigh safety. At minimum they plan on improving the safety of these tours and possibly get funding and implement the program in honor of Adam's name.

Money is being poured into these resorts, someone is making money, but why all ther poverty outside . Why can't money be diverted to improving health and safety, and way of living.

I indicated I wanted to be a part of that program.

I am on an awareness mission and will do whatever it takes to do it. The Embassy encouraged me to do so.

We have started a sports scholorship in Adam's name to support underpriviledeged children.

I beleive Adam's death has already saved a few lives.

I have been talking to W5, fifth estate etc and hope to get the message

 

[Chris]

My deepest condolences to you and your family.

 

[Lambada]

Cheetah,
I cannot imagine the control it took to post your report in such a factual, non self pitying, unemotive way.........when underneath you must be seething, weeping & everything else. Our words, here, are easy to write.........yours were not, you are the one with the pain, along with Adam's brothers & mother.

Deepest, deepest condolences on the loss of your shining star & know that he shines still & brighter than before.

And if it helps to come back & post more.............we are here.

 

[Malibook]

I would also agree that the tour guides didn't react quickly enough to the boy not re-appearing after jumping in - the same can be said for the parent! If it were MY offspring, I think I would have been in the water within seconds of him/her not coming up rather than yelling for someone else to do the 'rescuing'. This is NOT being unsympathetic, it is being honest!

I am not looking to place blame for this tragic accident but it just seems so incomprehensible to me that it was a lone woman who made the failed rescue attempt.
She came so close on her own, surely a concerted effort by all of the adults present would have likely been successful.
My own offspring or not, I can't imagine standing by and not doing anything.

This tragedy has left me greatly saddened, shocked, and stunned.

RIP Adam and my condolences to the family and friends.

 

[RSowell]

my condolences to you and your family

my condolences go out to you and your family, Adam was an amazing child, i remember when i first met him his precense was full of life and love, i use to volunteer in his grade 1 class and i remember he always had a smile on his face, the past 5 years whenever i would see your family in places such as wal-mart etc.. you were always nice and would greet me with smiles, i love you guys for that and Adam will always be rememberd in my heart, i also wanna donate money to his scholarship fund, if you could email me back at rsowell@cogeco.ca with any information on how to donate to his scholarship fund that would be great.

Sincerly,
Rob Sowell

Here is my story

While on a vacation in the Dominican Republic with my family, my son Adam, 11 yrs old died while on a dangerous Jeep Safari tour sold by Alegria Tours s.a., licensed by Jack Tar/Occidental.

The tour was to travel the countryside and finish at the highlight of the tour which involves climbing and jumping off waterfalls at Damajagua. I wanted my 3 children to experience how 3rd world children live so they could appreciate what they have.

The tour was advertised as being fun and safe for children by a licensed operator !

The first river was waist high with a strong current. Groups of 5 held hands with the instructor. ( later web site videos show this river shin high)

It was a 20 minute walk into the jungle to get to the first water fall.

The second and last waterfall we swam below was very turbulent, it had rained on a daily basis over the last 14 days. My son Adam was next in line to sail downstream with the current with a smile on his face only to be sucked in under water. He was a strong swimmer. My second son, a 13 yr old made it through just after Adam.

I hollered to the instructors to rescue Adam but they spent many minutes arguing with each other.

The brave lady who jumped in said she felt the undertow pull her under. She touched Adam but was worried about her own life. Eventually his body was pulled out and attempts to resuscitate him by other tourists failed.

We then had to make the long 20 min journey back to the parking lot, over barbed wire fences, my dead son on a stretcher.

The ambulance transported my son to the hospital and my wife and I were driven in one of the tour trucks to the hospital.

We were immediately met at the hospital by the tour operator lawyer who said he was there to help us through things like this. I was immediately suspicious. I know he was there to cause interference.

He took me to the police station for questioning. The power was off at the police station, I did not know where I was , walking down long dark hallways, until we came into a dark room with 2 candles.

They did not ask me any questions and the lawyer did all the talking to the so-called officer, It was in spanish.

The lawyer said we could go back to the hospital and said I was lucky to have him there because he said the officer wanted to keep me there for questioning all night so he told him it was only an accident. A few days later the police report indicated that Adam died while in a swimming accident with his father ,failing to mention anything about the tour.. A total lie.

I then commenced my own crusade. Can you believe that the day after Adam's death ,that very same tour was being sold and still being advertised as being safe for children by Alegria and other operators, ( many of the adults in our group had difficulty battling the currents)

I have video footage of my discussions with these tour operators telling me the tours were safe. Also,I intercepted many families with kids warning them of these tours. One family told me they were just told the waterfalls were safe for their 6 yr old son who could not swim. I immediately tracked down that tour operator and gave him some unkind words

Later , a local Domincan, and a reliable source told me there have been many broken bones on these tours in the past, and reluctantly told me there were a few deaths. How long has this cover up been occuring?

Some companies do not go the Damajagua.

I have been in close contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa and the Canadian Embassy in Santo Domingo.The Embassy has already issued a Canada Wide Travel advisory on their web site and have notified all tour companies throughout Canada. They are investigating the matter themselves and were surprised when I told them the name of the tour company who was licensed by Occidental, the owners of Jack Tar.

They said they will try to shut down the tours, however they think that the Economic incentives will outweigh safety. At minimum they plan on improving the safety of these tours and possibly get funding and implement the program in honor of Adam's name.

Money is being poured into these resorts, someone is making money, but why all ther poverty outside . Why can't money be diverted to improving health and safety, and way of living.

I indicated I wanted to be a part of that program.

I am on an awareness mission and will do whatever it takes to do it. The Embassy encouraged me to do so.

We have started a sports scholorship in Adam's name to support underpriviledeged children.

I beleive Adam's death has already saved a few lives.

I have been talking to W5, fifth estate etc and hope to get the message out.

 

[mislarimar]

my prayers go out to the family of this young boy.