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Dominican Authorities Classify Canadian Tourist’s Death as Drowning

Dominican civil defense investigators have classified MacDonald’s early-morning death on Maimon Bay beach as an accidental drowning.

Dorian MacDonald was found dead in Dominican Republic months after Sudiksha Konanki's presumed drowning
The Canadian flag flies over the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Ottawa.  THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
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A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $33,000 to help repatriate Dorian MacDonald's body to Nova Scotia.

Overview

  • Dorian Christian MacDonald, 33, was last seen walking on Maimon Bay beach at around 2 a.m. on June 20 and was reported missing an hour later before his body was recovered just after 4 a.m.
  • Investigators have found no evidence of foul play and continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the drowning classification.
  • Global Affairs Canada has informed MacDonald’s family of the official ruling and is coordinating consular support with local authorities.
  • Friends of MacDonald have launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover repatriation of his remains and related funeral expenses.
  • The ruling has renewed scrutiny of unexplained pre-dawn drownings among tourists in the Dominican Republic, echoing the March disappearance of student Sudiksha Konanki.