Vacation tragedy for Falls family
By JOHN LAW
Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 02:00
Local News -
NIAGARA FALLS Andrew Vitaterna was always proud of his son Adams adventurous spirit. And a bit afraid.
So he wasnt surprised last week when Adam, 11, was the first in line to jump off a short waterfall during a family vacation in the Dominican Republic. It was the last stop on a Jeep safari tour attended by several people. Minutes later, everything changed.
Andrew watched helplessly as his son was pulled under the waist-high water. Adam was a strong swimmer. He thought for something to suck him in that quickly, it must have been serious.
It took 10 minutes for the tour guides to find him, then nearly an hour before he was brought to a hospital, but it was already too late. He had drowned.
Today, nearly a week after the incident, Andrew and wife Marilena are looking for answers and warning tourists about the perils of vacationing in Third World countries.
We worry about whether we go to a three-star resort or a four-star, a five-star, said Andrew. Little do we know whats outside the walls of the resort. Youre playing with fire.
Its a Third World country. You have to be aware, adds Marilena.
The Vitaternas were anxious about the first vacation in a few years with their three children (Adam, 13-year-old Nicolas and nine-year-old Livia). They chose a Caribbean resort in Puerto Plata.
The safari tour last Wednesday gave tourists a chance to see the countryside and concluded with the waterfalls. Tourists held onto a rope as they waded through the water to jump off a series of ledges. It looked safe enough, but Andrew immediately noticed the water was unruly. He discovered later it had recently rained, making the currents more powerful.
Adam couldnt wait to jump. He went by me with the biggest smile, recalls Andrew.
When his son went under, Andrew frantically screamed at the tour guides to help. But they seemed to be arguing among themselves. Finally, another woman in the tour dove under and managed to grab Adams hand. Thats when the others pulled him out.
It felt like hours, said Andrew.
With Adam on a stretcher, the family made a frantic trip through the brush. Andrew recalls having to step over barbed wires, finding it odd a tour company wouldnt remove them.
They then had to wait 15 minutes for an ambulance to arrive and bring Adam to a hospital. He was dead upon arrival. The family even had to sign a DOA form.
The tour guide lawyer approached Andrew with condolences. He was then brought to a shady looking police station to give a statement.
Days later, Andrew and Marilena got hold of the police report. In Spanish, it said Adam died while swimming with father.
Before he returned home, Andrew warned as many people as possible to stay away from the tours.
We have to let people know that these tours are falsely advertised, he says. I ended up walking on the beach and talking to every couple I could find with children.
I think Adams death saved a couple of people that week.
Adam was an athletic, competitive Grade 6 student at Mary Ward school who was always inquisitive, says Marilena.
He was a deep thinker. He would come up with the most amazing questions out of the blue. He had a deep, deep soul.
I just felt this kids too good to be true, adds Andrew. Of all three kids, I was worried about him the most.
A visitation will be held today at Patterson Funeral Home from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, 10 a.m., at Our Lady of the Scapular Church.
...Mark
