UPDATE: French national drowns in Titou Gorge

Titou Gorge

The police have confirmed an earlier DNO report that a French national had drown in the Ti Tou Gorge.

The police have identified the dead man as 30-year old Herbert Donald Duterville of Forte De France, Martinique who was visiting the island for the World Creole Music Festival.

Reports are that Duterville went into the Gorge for a swim and was submerged for an extended period of time and did not emerge.

The taxi operator, who was present, went to seek assistance from villagers of Laudat and upon arrival discovered the lifeless body under the water.

The body was transported to the Princess Margaret Hospital Accident and Emergency Department where it was pronounced dead by a medical practitioner. A coroner’s inquest will be convened to be followed by a post mortem examination to determine the cause of death.

Foul play is not suspected, according the police.

A witness at the scene told DNO the incident occurred between 5:45 and 6:00 pm and the body of Duterville was finally transported to Roseau at 8:35 in the evening.

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64 Comments

  1. hiambob
    October 30, 2012

    it do right if u can not swim do try to be superman serves him right

    • Way Papa
      October 30, 2012

      Did you really had to add those 3 last words?? you should be shame of your self people like yourself need to stay off all public media Shame on you , shame on you

  2. T mama
    October 29, 2012

    Stop making persons bathe there, it is a dangerous place…the proper authorities have to seriously look into this matter…

  3. anonymous2
    October 29, 2012

    I told them 3 years ago to put a heavy rope in that place that people can hang on to in case they get disoriented. But is it up yet? Of course not.
    Don’t be sorry…..Do something safety oriented.

    • anonymous2
      October 29, 2012

      Also why was he up there trying to swim at that time of night in an unfamiliar, dangerous place. The taxi driver should have warned him that it wasn’t a good idea.

  4. October 29, 2012

    If at all, he was under the influence of alcohol that could be the primary reason for his drowning.

    Alcohol and going under water do not mix–it has a fatal impact on the brain. This has happened many times before. People must be alerted of the dangers of swimming after drinking.

    If this man was not a swimmer I don’t think he would go swimming–especially away from home.

    I pray to our God of Love, for the strength that his relatives and close friends need right now–In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

  5. Anonymous
    October 29, 2012

    my heart goes to the family of this man, please accept my condolences.

    This is not the first time a tour guide/taxi driver has taken people to a “water feature” and watched someone drown because they couldn’t swim. Need I go on?
    You are the tour guide, you are responsible for safety, if you cant swim, LEARN.

    • teach him
      October 29, 2012

      Like you can learn to swim at any given moment. Look talk.

  6. Anonymous
    October 29, 2012

    that’s why I do not venture where I can’t touch!

  7. simply blessed
    October 29, 2012

    They should put up warning signs at Titou Gorge explaining to visitors the depth of the Gorge because it looks easy at the mouth but when u get in the current changes and it gets deeper in certain areas. Dominicans might be aware of the depths of Titou Gorge but visitors are curious and unaware. Let’s not try to put another visitor’s life at risk. He is not the first to drown there. Steps need to be taken immediately.

    • Anonymous
      October 30, 2012

      i posted on here after the last man drowned a few month ago. Put up a sign indicating the depths and a gauge of a difficulty of the swim. and of course, “Swim at your own risk”. When people see that sign, it triggers a caution signal immediately.

  8. Tour Guide
    October 29, 2012

    An da di Zoh ka ani bla-bla. De news sed “the taxi operator”, nothing about “tour guide”.

    A taxi driver is not responsible for your saety once you are out of his vehicle. a tour guide is.

    A taxi driver will see to that you get there, a tour guide will see to it that you get there and back safely, but not many want to pay a tour guide.

  9. Jamdominic
    October 29, 2012

    Admin, was just reading a report elsewhere that there is a rubber inflatable missing at sea with 6 persons who were returning to Martinque from WCMF, any news on this?

    ADMIN: We are not aware of this…give us the link to the report and we will look into it. Send link to [email protected]

  10. natural dominican
    October 29, 2012

    tragic…hearts are with his family on our sister island Martinique

  11. Double G
    October 29, 2012

    Phone rings at an impossible hour,then u know it’s an emergency. It is confirmed as you live in France & the call comes from FDF.You are now fully awake when it’s the inlaws. Worse if you’re from D/A, and the news is brought to you. Terrible things happen.Only one who’s been there know the grief. Thanks for the support.

  12. October 29, 2012

    MY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE….. :cry: :cry:

  13. say is how it go
    October 29, 2012

    this is real sad , and oh please about the funny feeling don’t make people think it always have them kind a things when is festival ok and frist of all they shoul check who they giving to tour make sure they can guide them pple cause that’s not guideing pple that can do the work they don’t want them but those who can’t they keeping

  14. Anthony P. Ismael
    October 29, 2012

    Sad news from home. Some of our natural wonders are treacherous if precaution is not taken.

  15. just looking
    October 29, 2012

    R.I.P so sorry to hear that

  16. jus saying
    October 29, 2012

    i would like to knw y did they have to wait 10 to 20 to retrieve the body! mayb those minutes could make a difference! the tour guides should be trained in search n rescue and performing cpr!

    • Private
      October 29, 2012

      Obviously you do not know there. Try swimming to the gorge against that rapid flow we have been having lately in the river and see who you can save. Easy to sit at your computer and suggest CPR etc but you need to know what you are against in that hole.

    • jus saying2
      October 29, 2012

      r u an idiot? ofcourse its gonna take 10 to 20 min its the abulance coming from Roseau to Tito Gorge. And you obviously dont know titu gorge if u want the tour guide to attempt a rescue by himself plus look at wat time it was

    • Show me the money
      October 29, 2012

      You make sense ,read very carefully

    • Tijhan
      October 29, 2012

      search and rescue? if you’re guiding someone you shouldn’t ned to search for them – they should be near you. And the guide can advise people that an activity is dangerous but if they want to act against the advice they are free to do so- at their own risk. I don’t think a guide should have to risk his own life trying to save someone.

  17. Anonymous
    October 29, 2012

    oh my god so sad

  18. jean t savan
    October 29, 2012

    oh so sad!please put up some danger sign and please residents from the area(village council)set up some divers and watch group to ensure visitor’s safety.lets not wait for govt. to do it for us..

    • 123
      October 29, 2012

      Agree with you, because it’s not the first time this has happened.

    • honey
      October 29, 2012

      OH I BACK YOU UP ON THAT,THEY SHOULD REALLY HAVE A WATCH GUARDS ON DUTY TO EDUCATE AND LOOK OUT FOR THESE THINGS WITH PROPER GEARS AND TRUE THAT LETS NOT WAIT ON THE GOVERNMENT

    • Patorah Blackman
      October 29, 2012

      I totally agree with you.. i was expressing the same views.why did’t they put up danger zones signs Ten twenty minutes to wait for divers or a ambulance is too long.my heart goes out to the families

    • Anonymous
      October 29, 2012

      I agree

  19. good
    October 29, 2012

    sorry I had to hear this sad news :cry:

  20. President
    October 29, 2012

    Wow ..Rip bro. I have been saying over and over again. lifeguards should be at this place. ensure that everyone swimming in that pool wear a life jacket. thats the third body retrieved from that river in the space of three years. If we are giving up agriculture for tourism, lets do things the tourism way , by protecting our tourist. its basic common sense.

    • Not a herd follower
      October 29, 2012

      I agree a warning sign should be placed near the gorge. Bathers should be strongly advised to wear life jackets. We take things for granted too much in Dominica.

  21. On Looker
    October 29, 2012

    Can anyone say whether the tour guide was trained in CPR? Were any attempts made to revive the individual? Sympathies to the family and friends of the gentleman.

  22. Possie
    October 29, 2012

    Condem that site Boss.. Too much People dying there.

    • Jespen
      October 29, 2012

      Condemn that mouth Boss. Too much emits from it. Have you stopped flying?

      • Anonymous
        October 29, 2012

        LMAO!!!Nice one :lol:

  23. October 29, 2012

    OMG so so sad.My condolenses to all.

  24. Anonymous
    October 29, 2012

    so sorry

  25. CB BOSS
    October 28, 2012

    I’m sure there will be an inquest. However, in the absence of foul play, I think he was suffering from a chronic disease and had a fatal stroke or MI.

    My condolences goes out to his family and friends.

    • simply blessed
      October 29, 2012

      i wonder how CB BOSS know how the man died before the inquest.

      • CB BOSS
        October 29, 2012

        I like you.

      • Tijhan
        October 29, 2012

        innit! maybe he had a diabetic hypo or epilectic fit or just plain drowned.

  26. Yes Fada!
    October 28, 2012

    Uh-oh, not very hype news during such a festive season. My sympathies to his family and friends, wherever they may be.

  27. happy
    October 28, 2012

    Omg!! Yesterday I was telling someone that I had a funny feeling , every time there’s a festive season in dominica. Something happens,only to find this evening I’m hearing this sad news. My condolences to his family and friends.

    • Nac Vibes
      October 29, 2012

      Yeah, and i had a funny feeling that some one was going to have a funny feeling. Please!!!!!

      • Tijhan
        October 29, 2012

        I had a funny feeling I was going to get jokes in these comments.

  28. sympathy
    October 28, 2012

    With my deepest sympathy to the famiy and friends of the special soul. I hope to God it was accidental. No matter where someone come from, in any part of the world, he or she is still a human being. We are good people and we will sympathize with those left behild. My his or soul rest in Peace!I am in the states and we do not know who Sandy is going to take with her. Lord be with us.

    • Trolol
      October 29, 2012

      Lol, they always have funny feelings. :mrgreen:

  29. :-
    October 28, 2012

    Sounds fishy to me…

    • hmm
      October 29, 2012

      weh papa. must everything come with a conspiracy theory?

    • Show me the money
      October 29, 2012

      O, please

  30. Anonymous
    October 28, 2012

    I love Dominica. I was a pastor / missionary there from 1992-1999

    • Da Woman
      October 29, 2012

      ?????????????????

  31. princess Osanna
    October 28, 2012

    so, did they leave the body in the water until the firemen arrived?

  32. kits
    October 28, 2012

    so saddddddddddddddddddd……….

  33. Calibishie
    October 28, 2012

    Very sad to hear. I pray that the Good Lord will comfort his family.

  34. 911
    October 28, 2012

    poor family

  35. correction
    October 28, 2012

    Sorry about the sad news but I must also note to DNO that Fire and Abulance Service was all so part of the recovery effort not only the police

  36. commentary
    October 28, 2012

    :( oh my I don’t like to hear or read these kind of news at all..so sad eh…man came to enjoy himself for the season I suppose and look what happens..I wonder how he happened to drown.. sad man real sad :( :(

  37. itassi4us
    October 28, 2012

    may the good lord be with his family at this time. he must’ve just come to Dominica to enjoy our independence with us. really heartbreaking news.

  38. Curious
    October 28, 2012

    So sorry..

  39. Anonymous
    October 28, 2012

    Oh dear; sorry to hear. Don’t know why people who are not used to that place are allowed to bathe there

  40. Attitude
    October 28, 2012

    Oh dear! :(

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