Santo Domingo, D.R. — Khalid Adkins, a 46-year old man from Denver, Colorado, was not allowed to board his flight home from the Dominican Republic for being too ill and eventually died on Tuesday. He is the 11th American who has reportedly died after suddenly falling ill in the country in the past year.
Last Sunday, Adkins was trying to fly back to the U.S. when he was forced to get off the plane after he was seen dripping in sweat and vomiting in the plane’s bathroom, according to his sister-in-law, Marla Strick.
Adkins was then taken to a hospital in Santo Domingo. His family said that he was alone in the hospital and screaming in pain. Doctors said he is in critical condition as his kidneys were failing and having trouble breathing.
Doctors told Adkins’ family that they could put him on dialysis or they could take him to the U.S. through a medivac for $20,000. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to raise money to fly him back to the U.S.
But almost three days after, Adkins has died. The cause of his death is yet to be known and his body is undergoing an autopsy in the Dominican Republic.
Adkins traveled to the island nation last week with his daughter, Mia Adkins, who returned home earlier while Adkins stayed to spend more time in the country. She posted on Facebook that her father “got super sick” when she returned home.
It is the 11th reported death of an American in the past year and the 4th this month. The deaths reportedly happened after they complained of feeling ill after eating a meal or drinking out of hotel minibars.
Meanwhile, César Duverany, a spokesperson for the Dominican Republic’s foreign ministry, stated that the cases were isolated and the number of deaths is not unusual. However, the circumstances that led to the deaths have raised concerns and is currently being investigated with U.S. authorities.