Tragedy at Damajagua

[Lambada]

An American couple, staying in Cabarete, aged 52, drowned at the falls. Their teenage children tried to save them. Recent rains caused rush of current. Damn, thought after the Canadian child that that would be the last..........
Puerto Plata Digital

[jake18]

that is so sad water can be so dangerous

[Black Dog]

I guess this is the flip side of less rules & regs, no health and safety regulations!

[dv8]

this is very sad and shocking. i thought that jackets and helmets made it safe but it seems the nature is stronger. just shows one cannot visit 27 charcos after the rain.

[Conchman]

thats fu**ed up, just last night people were talking about going there and I told them about the kid that drowned, to be careful because of all the rains recently. What a co-incidence.

Was it a whirlpool type situation where the people were sucked to the bottom?

[El Tigre]

Originally Posted by Lambada

Damn, thought after the Canadian child that that would be the last..........
Puerto Plata Digital

SO DID I!!!!!!!!!!!

This is sooooooo sad. My condolences to their children and family. I don't want to point the finger but shouldn't the guide know about the strong current? It says in the report it had been raining earlier. I feel horrible when I read stuff like this.

[Lambada]

The family had a guide with them, so this was NOT an unsupervised visit. The guide is named here:
MUEREN AHOGADOS EN CHARCO DE DAMAJAGUA TURISTAS NORTEAMERICANOS

They also appear to have had life jackets & helmets. Certainly the photo taken in the morgue shows a helmet. Caution: the picture is not horrendous but if you're a family member or close friend be advised this is a photo of the deceased.
Link removed out of respect to the family. - Gregg, Mod.

This happened Thursday afternoon and certainly Puerto Plata had really heavy rain for an hour or so on Thursday afternoon. It could be that they were already in the pool when the heavens opened.

[Thandie]

In November 2007 on my guided trip there I felt the tour company took a risk.
I found out after we returned to our resort that 2 other tour companies had CANCELLED their trips to the falls that day due to safety concerns for their customers.
I guess our tour company was more concerned about the money.

Due to the 2 hurricanes that recently hit and the rains....the waters were extremely rough, and I was nervous and this is coming from someone who is into adventure sports (been white water rafting on the Zambizi River, bungee and skydiving to name a few).

Maybe it should not be the tour companies choice whether its safe or not to do the falls tour when it has been raining alot. They should have ALOT more life saving equipment at the site and trained staff

[Thandie]

Originally Posted by Lambada

The family had a guide with them, so this was NOT an unsupervised visit.

BTW the liscenced tour guides just take you to the falls. They do not guide or supervise you while you are climbing the falls. Tour guides rarely even step foot into the falls. The water guys do... who from what I know dont have to have any specific training or certification.

[Cheetah]

Hello everyone. My condolences to the family.

I am Adam's father, Adam died at this waterfall 4 years ago at age 11. A very strong swimmer. I do not have to explain my story. You have either heard about it or read about it at Remembering Adam Vitaterna.

I was pleased when the life jackets and safety helmets were put in place after his death, but somehow I felt his death would not be the last. I heard there were deaths before his and now there deaths after his.

The forces of mother nature and water can not be overcome with life jackets, helmuts or better guide traning. That tour should not be operated during rain events. It should be measured by the depth of water and flow in the first river crossing. Our's was waist high, almost swept us away. The guides joked that if you let go of the other person's hand you would be swept away to Cuba. Others have told me it weas ankle high.

I don't know what to say . I am in shock.