Canadian in distress

UPDATED INFORMATION AVAILABLE

CANADIAN EMBASSY IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC web page.

"We are here to help you in case of an emergency"

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/problems/missing_persons-en.asp and http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/problems/medical_assistance-en.asp and realize that none of these steps were taken in this case.


http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/1/2/26571/Canadian-man-still-miss...
"Dominican Today placed repeated calls to local units of the tourist police and navy but was unable to obtain any new information about the search. Ordinary Seaman Familia Recio with the Dominican naval post at El Cortacito in Punta Cana said the staff had no knowledge of the incident."

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/1/3/26582/Family-of-missing-Canad...
"Written by: Greggk, 5 Jan 2008 6:28 PM
From: Canada
I was at this resort the last week of November. A very nice American girl got into trouble with the rip tide. It is a very dangerous location. I've been to many resorts where buoys and ropes indicate a safe swimming area - quite a few have life guards, this in spite of the fact that the ocean was visibly calmer.
THERE IS NO LIFE GUARD, NO INDICATION OF UNSTABLE CONDITIONS AND NO SAFETY EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE
HOTEL STAFF AND OR ANIMATORS ON THE BEACH WERE UNWILLING OR UNTRAINED TO OFFER HELP.
THE HOTEL WENT SO FAR AS TO TRY TO CHARGE THE VICTIM FOR HER RESCUE (A GROUP OF HOTEL GUESTS WHO HELPED HER TO SAFETY).

Dear Excellence Hotel
HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE MUST DIE"

I updated the links to all the stories in the newspapers.

We still need your help in raising the awareness about lack of cooperation from our representatives in Santo Domingo and the low involvement of the locals, authorities and the 5* Excellence Resort and Spa in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Anyone who has witnessed what was going on there please contact me. Thank you to the people who have already done that.


http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/12/31/dominican-missing.html

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/12/31/dominican-missing.html#skip300x250

http://www.canada.com/globaltv/bc/story.html?id=05c9594e-d000-49fb-a57c-a2b0c...

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=37fa5b7f-78d7-4a1d-ba83-a0391...

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2007/12/31/26558/Canadianman-swept-to-...

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=207250

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20080101_090225_512

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080101.BCSWIMMER01/TPStory...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080101.BCSWIMMESB01/TPStor...

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=6227f08b-7926-4637-bb9b...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080101.BCSWIMMER01/TPStory...

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20080103_173602_496


December 28th, ~3pm, 1 day after they arived in Punta Cana, Hady and Tiffany were swimming 30' into the waters of 5* resort Excellence in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

They responded to the calls of help of another man, and got caught by a riptide. Tiffany barely made it ashore and started screaming for help.

There were no lifeguards on the scene and no means to go out and attempt a rescue.

Family and friends are down there organizing the rescue. All that they were asking for was help, help from local authorities and help from the Canadian Embassy.

This post was done out of despair, frustration and disbelief to the amount of none involvement and lethargic attitude of the authorities, hotel and so on.

Your comments and support are very welcomed, this shows us that such an attitude is unexpected, unaccepted and that something must have gone terribly wrong down there.

Our prayers still go to the family and friends at the scene that are continuing the search.

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[frustannoyed]

For those of you stating that his friends and family should not have asked or expected to get help from the canadian embassy should examine the Canadian embassy's website in the Dominican and you may get a better understanding of the role of the embassy specifically you should check the section that states "We are here to help you in case of an emergency" and check out the section under missing persons and medical emergency and realize that none of these steps were taken in this case.

[canadianindistress]

Thank you, I updated the links with the EMBASSY's page.

[canadianindistress]

"Written by: Greggk, 5 Jan 2008 6:28 PM

From: Canada

I was at this resort the last week of November. A very nice American girl got into trouble with the rip tide. It is a very dangerous location. I've been to many resorts where buoys and ropes indicate a safe swimming area - quite a few have life guards, this in spite of the fact that the ocean was visibly calmer.

[canadianindistress]

THERE IS NO LIFE GUARD, NO INDICATION OF UNSTABLE CONDITIONS AND NO SAFETY EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE

HOTEL STAFF AND OR ANIMATORS ON THE BEACH WERE UNWILLING OR UNTRAINED TO OFFER HELP.

THE HOTEL WENT SO FAR AS TO TRY TO CHARGE THE VICTIM FOR HER RESCUE (A GROUP OF HOTEL GUESTS WHO HELPED HER TO SAFETY).

Dear Excellence Hotel

HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE MUST DIE"

end of quote

[slikpskorn]

Fuck That Shit!!! Dominicans Represent!

[canadianindistress]

Yes, Dominicans are amazing people. Felt like home when I've been there, and this is another reason why we should make another clear distinction between resorts, local authorities, and decent common people that really, trully are amazing.

It's not the Dominican people's fault for what happened to Hady, but it is the Resort, the local authorities, and our officials that failed to respond to the matter in useful time.

[dropshadows]

It's chilling that there seems to be no changes going on at Excellence. My mother and father were there in 2006 and the exact same thing happened. Both of them got pulled out in a riptide, my mother barely made it in and sadly my father didn't. This was at 10:30am - they weren't drinking, the water looked calm, no flags or warning signs and no lifeguards. They need to make some changes. I've been reading about a lot of drownings at Excellence. I'm sure there are more not on the web.

[eliwall]

Well the problem with going to any place as a tourist is that one must know their limits. Most likely the people that ran missing were either drunk or high.

Nothing wrong with a few drinks, but they should of been careful. Drink at the hotel and if you do don't walk out of the hotel because you get drunk there is a huge chance of something happening.

People drink and drive when they shouldn't and bad shit happens. It is really knowing where to do these things that is important.

[boltville]

If you travel one must know that help is not always readily available. I was held in Mexico by a crazy man and did manage to get to the Can. Embassy but only with help from a desk clerk. It is amazing what our countries do NOT do to help. I will never be stuck like that again and it was the only time in my life I ever had to beg for help. I was so scared until I got back into Canada. Worst time of my life.

[diskman01]

I nearly lost my life today due to a riptide.  I never knew what one was till today. I'm trying to learn all I can about it and came across this youtube video. Your absolutly right that awareness needs to be raised. Thank you for making this video.

[scarfdaddy]

The government failed here, look at the effort put forth forth in lebanon for "dual-citizens", the majority of whom never even lived in canada at any time. Hady, you went out saving someones life and from having known you it wasnt surprising what you did and a fitting way for you to go on to the next plane of existence.

[yotesingue]

You just said the true I LIVE IN CANADA....

[lneyestani]

this is an outrage.  my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

[kordia2008]

Hi Marius, could you please update me with what is happening, there is nothing on the news, I just spoke to my brother Tony, who is good friend of Hady's and didn't know much more. I am assuming the search has ended, when is everyone coming home and how is Tiffany and Hady's family? I have prayed for them and for Hady's return everynight. THANK YOU for what you have for Hady and his family.

[geistjg]

Being on the beach this day I unfortunately witnessed this tragedy and am disgusted at the lack of support from what is claimed to be a 5 star hotel. Two people in plastic rings were in difficulty 10 to 15 mins before allowing the hotel additional time to react. As expected I have not received a reply to a report emailed to Gregory Beck General Manager 4th January. Copies of this communication have now been passed to our travel company First Choice.