Police in Dominica are carrying out investigations into an alleged drowning of an Australian tourist which occurred in the Champagne Beach area on Sunday.
According to reports from Police Inspector Fixton Henderson, the tourist identified as Murray Blundell came to the island on a cruise ship that was docked at the Roseau Cruise Ship Berth.
“On Sunday the 16th day of April 2023 about 10:00 a.m. Murray Blundell, male 69-years-old of Australia went snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea at the Champagne Beach area with a group of other tourists,” Henderson explained. “While snorkeling about 10:30 a.m. approximately 100 metres from shore, someone in the group noticed that Murray was missing and apparently called out for help.”
He explained further that Blundell was then discovered in the water about 50 metres from the group in an unconscious state.
He was extracted from the sea and brought to shore where CPR was administered.
“However, he remained unresponsive,” Henderson revealed.
Blundell was transported to the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) where he was examined and pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
His body is being kept at a funeral home pending an autopsy.
The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force expresses its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
What was his physical condition, he could have suffered a heart attack or stroke while swimming. Was he swimming all by himself? Dominica should provide life guards with communications at locations where tourists and locals are swimming. The PM should make that a priority he has the money.
For a 69 year old cruise ship passenger be 100 meters offshore and to be found unconscious 50 metres from the group doesn’t say much for qualified supervision.
Yes I agree with you. They should have had a supervisor for each person in the water and await any event which might be imminent. What garbage to come out and be printed.
Of late some sad deaths to foreigners taking place in Dominica. Just last week we had one that hung himself on a cruise ship and today this one. I just don’t know why these things taking place in Dominica. Well we already know when those wanted criminals are on the run they always find an open door to Dominica where they will even get vip welcome and treatment. Anyway my condolences to his family . Oh any word on the French young lady that went missing during carnival?
Sad indeed, condolences to the family
DNO, it’s instructive that you’re reporting that the tourist drowned (see headline), when nothing in the story itself suggests drowning or anything definite. What if he suffered a heart attack?
Is this report really coming from a police inspector? If what I read above is really from a police inspector then there is no pats investigation because the officer spoke as if everything is factual and left no room for investigation. Notice:
“While snorkeling about 10:30 a.m. approximately 100 metres from shore, someone in the group noticed that Murray was missing and apparently called out for help.
In a death like this an officer must understand that what a witness said must not be treated as fact even if it is factual. In a real country there would be a real investigation and all witnesses would be part of the investigation until found not guilty by a judge. As a result the police report is very critical to the case and therefore the officer in his report should learn to use words like alleged or allegedly. But according to this report the officer reported facts as if he has concluded that what they told is what really happened. Sorry but a very bad job from the inspector