VARADERO, Cuba – A Canadian died in Varadero, Cuba, Foreign Affairs confirmed to 680News.
Foreign Affairs would only confirm the death of a Canadian citizen but did not release a cause of death.
The identity of the tourist and province of origin have not been released. However, there are reports the victim is from Montreal.
680News learned of a death after Kirk Nesbitt, the vice-president of engineering at Rogers Radio, witnessed a drowning at a beach.
“There were quite a few people on the beach sunbathing but only one person in the water,” he said.
“Very shortly after we had arrived there, the fellow in the water started waving his arms and we could hear him yelling.”
“Three [lifeguards] went running into the water to go after him and the waves were quite high.”
“You could see him floating face down. The lifeguard had to give up and let go of him to get in safely himself. The other two lifeguards were never able to make it anywhere close to him,” he said.
According to Nesbitt, a Good Samaritan also went to the victim’s aid. The man, believed to be from Cuba, drowned.
Canadian consular officials in Varadero are working with Cuban authorities, according to reporter Cormac MacSweeney.