Toronto Couple’s Terrifying Experience on Sinking Tour Boat in the Dominican Republic

A Toronto couple is speaking out about their harrowing experience on a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week. Brock MacKenzie and Kerri Wolanski were on a tour of the Haitises National Park caves when they noticed water seeping onto the boat. MacKenzie initially didn’t understand what was happening but soon realized the boat was sinking, with no safety measures in place.

The boat, operated by Grupo Pinero, suffered damage to its hull from a floating log. Despite the captain following protocols and taking the boat to a nearby island, passengers were left without life jackets and no safety instructions were given. MacKenzie described the crew as doing nothing to ensure passenger safety during the ordeal.

Fortunately, all passengers made it back to shore safely, but the couple was asked to sign a document downplaying the incident as a “minor inconvenience.” MacKenzie has not received any communication from insurance companies or Air Transat, the company through which the tour was booked.

In response, Air Transat stated they are offering refunds to affected clients and working to resolve the matter satisfactorily. MacKenzie, however, is considering legal action to hold the tour operator accountable for the lack of safety measures that put passengers at risk.

This terrifying experience has left the couple shaken and determined to ensure that necessary safety changes are made to prevent such incidents in the future. They are urging accountability and responsibility from the tour operator to prioritize passenger safety above all else.