Beatty, 71, died peacefully Sunday afternoon with friends at his side, a press release said. “Our friend is now in his last resting place, a place he has chosen,” friend Peter Amo said in a statement. “He will long be remembered by many as a great guy who made a difference with his humanitarian efforts.” Beatty was a retired Brockville employee who worked as a revenue collector every summer for the islands, hence his nickname. Beatty was found unconscious on March 18 on a dark street outside the village where he lived. His passport, travel documents and $ 90 were on his face. Friends believe he was probably hit and run. Beatty suffered six rib fractures and a punctured lung. On March 25, he suffered a heart attack while in hospital. His friends said he showed some signs of recovery on Friday. “He woke up and recognized his friends and while he could not speak, he could respond to things like opening your eyes, waving your left foot,” the press release said. However, his heart could not withstand the pressure. He was on a ventilator until Thursday and then breathed in an oxygen mask until his death on Sunday afternoon. He had three blood transfusions. Friends say Beatty will be buried with Mark’s closest friend in Zipolit, a village in Mexico where they shared many years together. A GoFundMe started by friends remains active and will be spent on outstanding expenses, friends said. Funeral services are underway in Mexico.
