NEED TO KNOW
- The body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore in the Dominican Republic in the early morning hours of June 20
- Dorian Christian MacDonald was last seen at around 2 a.m. local time on a beach walk, and his body was discovered at about 4:15 a.m.
- MacDonald’s loved ones called his death a “drowning accident” in a GoFundMe page
The body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore on a beach in the Dominican Republic.
Dorian Christian MacDonald was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. local time on the morning of June 20, per Canadian national news outlet CTV News.
MacDonald was on a solo vacation at a hotel in Puerto Plata on the island’s north coast, and authorities said he had been walking alone on the beach at about 2 a.m., per the outlet.
CTV News reached out to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the department that oversees diplomatic relations, and a GAC spokesperson reportedly confirmed that they are “aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in the Dominican Republic,” but could not disclose any further information due to privacy considerations.
The representative also reportedly said the department is currently providing consular services to the victim’s family, per the outlet.
Jenssen Sanchez, a spokesperson for the Dominican Republic’s Civil Defense Agency, which manages emergency response efforts, told Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail that first responders were called to the scene after receiving a call at 3 a.m. local time. Sanchez confirmed that the body was located more than an hour later.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
PEOPLE reached out to the Civil Defense Agency and Global Affairs Canada for comment on Saturday, June 28, but did not receive an immediate response.
Tara McKenzie, a friend of MacDonald and his family, called MacDonald’s death a “drowning accident” in a GoFundMe established to help cover his funeral expenses, as well as the various costs associated with returning his body to Canada.
“Between flights, international paperwork, funeral coordination, preparation of his body and all the red tape, we’re looking at a cost of $10,000–$20,000 just to get him back. And honestly? We just want him out of that cold system and back where he belongs — with us,” McKenzie wrote on the fundraising page.
She also described MacDonald as a force of nature, leaving an imprint on almost everyone he met.
“There are some people who don’t just pass through your life. They crash in, kick their shoes off, make you laugh until your ribs hurt, become your chosen family and just stay there, woven into the fabric of your heart forever,” McKenzie wrote, adding, “Dorian Christian MacDonald, who most of us also know affectionately as D-Mac, was one of those people.”
“Dorian handed out hugs, compliments and I love you’s as freely as oxygen,” she continued. “He was that person. His presence felt like it would just always be there. And now, somehow, just like that, he’s gone.”
As of Saturday, June 28, the fundraiser has raised over $26,000 toward a goal of $29,000.
Read the full article here