British tourist drowns in Negril
WESTERN BUREAU – A British tourist, Dean Pickering, drowned in a swimming pool at the Devine Destiny Hotel in Negril’s West End on Saturday night, two days before he was scheduled to end his vacation.
According to the police, Pickering, a 35 year-old computer analyst, was seen drinking alcohol before going for a swim in the pool at about 11:00 pm.
Guests later spotted his body at the bottom of the pool and one of them reportedly retrieved it and brought it to the surface.
Pickering’s body was subsequently taken to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital where he was pronounced dead, and then to Doyle’s Funeral Home.
The Negril police say they do not suspect foul play since Pickering had no visible marks or injuries to his body that would suggest this.
The hotel’s management has refused to comment on the incident.
“We are not at liberty at this point in time (to comment) based on instructions given by the company not to divulge any type of information to anyone,” a woman who identified herself only as a member of staff told the Observer yesterday afternoon.
“It is still under investigation by the police, so we are not able to make any comments at all on the issue,” the woman added.