A Canadian tourist drowned after a boat capsized along Negril’s coastline on Monday. The tragedy struck during an afternoon excursion taken by 68-year-old Jean D’Amour, who was visiting Jamaica from Etobicoke, Ontario.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on January 20, after D’Amour left the Riu Club Hotel on Norman Manley Boulevard, where he was staying, to participate in a sailing activity off the coast.
While at sea, the sailboat he was travelling on flipped when a strong wave smashed into it. Upon impact, D’Amour and another occupant were thrown overboard as the vessel’s top submerged.
Rescuers rushed to their aid and managed to bring the other occupant to safety. D’Amour, however, reportedly encountered difficulty in the water and drowned before he could be assisted. He was confirmed dead after he was retrieved and transported to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital.
Following the incident, investigations were launched by the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Tourism Liaison Office, and the Non-Geographic Investigations Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to determine the cause of the capsizing. The probe will examine the condition of the sailboat and the state of the sea at the time of the incident.
Negril is widely known for its calm waters and recreational marine activities, which are popular among visitors. The death of D’Amour has cast a sombre mood over the resort area.
A short footage of the scene shows emergency responders attending to the deceased after he was recovered from the water. He is lying on the beach, where several onlookers, including other tourists, are gathered. At least 5 people have drowned in January 2026.
Before this incident, a woman, a teenager and a police officer reportedly drowned at a Hellshire beach in Portmore. The police were swept away after trying to rescue the woman and the teen. The woman was rescued by others but later died at the hospital, while the teen was also missing. Authorities later found the body of a teen believed to be the victim of the drowning incident. The policeman’s body was never found.
