60-year-old Canadian tourist drowns in Iguazú Falls
T he body of a 60-year-old Canadian tourist who fell into the waters of the Iguazú Falls two days earlier was found Wednesday afternoon.
According to the municipal director of the Iguazú Tourism Entity, Marcelo Gione, the recovery occurred on the Brazilian side of the border, in Foz de Iguazú.
“Indeed, yesterday we learned from photos and videos that they sent us that the body belongs to the person who had jumped in. It is an unfortunate fact. It is now in the hands of justice to investigate under what circumstances that person fell into the water,” the official remarked in dialogue with Cadena 3 news portal, acknowledging that it remains unclear whether or not the death was a suicide.
The Canadian tourist, who has not been identified, had been staying in a local hotel in Puerto Iguazú, officials said. The man fell around 11am on Monday from the footbridges of the Bosetti Falls, an upper section of the waterfalls, reportedly while trying to take a photograph.
After the authorities were alerted, Iguazú Park personnel and volunteer firefighters carried out an intensive search and rescue effort, which was made difficult by the increased flow of water that the Iguazú River has registered in recent weeks.
The Brazilian health authorities and the Brazilian Fire Department collaborated with members of the Misiones Police, the Argentine Coast Argentine, and Argentine park rangers throughout the search.