A rafting accident on Oct. 20 in Costa Rica left four Americans dead in addition to their guide, the U.S. State Department confirmed.
“We are saddened by news of rafting accident in #CostaRica. We can confirm four U.S. citizens died as a result of the accident. We extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones, and extend our gratitude to the Government of Costa Rica for their support in this tragedy,” said Heather Nauert, a State Department spokeswoman, in a statement.
Anthony Castro, one of the group of 14, was on the Naranjo River with five guides, spread across three rafts.
“We’ve all been friends for many years and we knew we wanted to do something special for our friend before his wedding. We planned a few activities, one of them being a white-water rafting tour on the Saturday of our trip,” Castro wrote.
‘All of Us Were Careening Down the River’
It was windy and raining when the group first arrived at the river but the tour guides said the conditions were okay less than an hour later.“Within five minutes of being out on the river, all three rafts capsized, and everyone ended up in the water,” Castro wrote. “Everyone struggled to get back on the rafts, with some efforts being successful, but ultimately the rafts continued to capsize due to the immense current. Within minutes, all of us were careening down the river with life jackets and helmets just trying to stabilize and find something to hold on to.”
Everyone struggled to stay above the water and dealt with heavy blows from rocks that were in or around the water. Most of the group was able to hold on to the rafts or grab rocks or other barriers in or around the water, but not the five deceased.
“Luis, the man we hoped to celebrate all weekend, lost a brother and we all lost four great friends during this vacation which went horribly wrong,” Castro said.
Search and Rescue
A search and rescue operation involving 120 people was launched for the group, reported Q Costa Rica.The call that the rafts flipped came in at 3:20 p.m. local time and the fifth body was recovered by 9 p.m.
Authorities said the Santos area, where the accident occurred, was swollen from the Naranjo River tributary. Rafting takes place year-round in Costa Rica, the most popular Central American tourist destination, known for its peaceful atmosphere and wide range of environmental zones. But the wet season brings heavy rains and flooded rivers, increasing the danger of outdoor activities like rafting.
The four Americans were identified as Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo, and Andres Dennis; the Costa Rican tour guide who died was identified as Kevin Thompson Reid.
Costa Rican officials joined American officials in offering condolences.
Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado Quesada said on his official Twitter account: “In the name of the government and people of Costa Rica I would like to express our deepest sorrow for the accident this afternoon at the Naranjo River in Quepos. I would like to thank all the emergency and security teams that worked diligently, and I have instructed authorities to help the victim’s families.”
