Canadian tourist mysteriously found dead in Dominican Republic in Sudiksha Konanki-like drowning

Dorian MacDonald, a 38-year-old Canadian tourist, was found dead in the Dominican Republic’s popular Puerto Plata resort town

Updated on: Jun 28, 2025, 07:17:44 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Dorian MacDonald, a 38-year-old Canadian tourist, was found dead in the Dominican Republic’s popular Puerto Plata resort town, CTV reported. The Nova Scotia resident's death, under mysterious circumstances, comes about three months after University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki's disappearance and presumed drowning in Punta Cana.

Dorian MacDonald was found dead in Dominican Republic months after Sudiksha Konanki's presumed drowning (Facebook)

According to the CTV report, MacDonald, staying alone at a Puerto Plata hotel, took a late-night walk around 2 AM on June 20, near the beach. An hour later, at approximately 3 AM, a 911 call reported him missing. His body was later discovered, with Dominican authorities classifying the death as a drowning, though specific details remain undisclosed.

Police found his body in the water during high tide at 4:15 AM local time. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) spokesperson told CTV News that the department is ‘aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in the Dominican Republic’, but did not reveal details due to ‘privacy considerations’. The 38-year-old's family is yet to issue a statement.

GoFundMe set up

Tara McKenzie, a close friend, described MacDonald as a ‘brother’ on a GoFundMe page, raising over $33,000 toward a $40,000 goal for funeral expenses. She highlighted his vibrant personality, noting his ‘infectious laugh’ and generous spirit.

“The painful reality is now facing the unthinkable task of trying to bring him back to Nova Scotia in a timely manner—to his Mom, his sisters, his family, his people. As much as we know how much he loved D.R (IYKYK) we need him home,” the GoFundMe description reads.

Sudiksha Konanki’s case

Like MacDonald, Konanki vanished during a pre-dawn beach visit at Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana on March 6. She was last seen on CCTV at 4:15 AM with Joshua Riibe, who reported being swept by a wave while swimming.

Konanki’s case saw extensive searches, yet her body wasn’t found, prompting her parents to request a death declaration.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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