The authorities recovered on Tuesday, 7 February 2023 the body of 40-year old Canadian tourist James Gordon William Dewitt, who died when the fishing boat he had contracted sank in the reef area of Cabeza de Toro beach.
The victim’s body was found on the beach of Bávaro and was taken to the beach of Cabeza de Toro for the corresponding purposes. The acting medical examiner, Dr. Polanco Guzmán, examined the lifeless body and identified the cause of death as “cerebral hypoxia” (lack of oxygen in the brain).
Others on the capsized boat were the captain, 42-year old Brenis Miguel Calcaño and the Canadian tourists, 53-year old André Rondeau, 43-year old Wayne Roger Boudreault, 63-year old John Francis Joseph, and 36-year old Daryl Chistopher Fournier. The four tourists survived and were taken to the Punta Cana Medical Center.
The authorities say that the captain of the boat and the owner, 35-year old Aristis Sosa Batista, were detained at the Cabeza de Toro Navy station for the ongoing investigations.
The Punta Cana Medical Center reported that André Rondeau suffered fracture of the seventh rib of his left side. Francis Joseph was described as being in a state of “incomplete drowning.”
Wayne Roger Boudreault and the captain of the boat Brenis Miguel Calcaño were not admitted to the hospital, as they were not injured.
The incident occurred, according to the statements of the victims, when a wave strongly hit the stern of the boat, causing it to capsize.
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Diario Libre
9 February 2023