Costa Rica White Water Rafting Rescue

Exciting white water rafting GoPro clip from the Roberts family vacation in Costa Rica. December 2014.
We are lucky to have been in the right position to rescue this woman. We are also very aware that it was a mistake to unclip her PFD... I think the reaction was that the straps were making it hard for her to breathe.
Filmed with GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition

[@GO-xs8pj]

I've been on a lot of rivers with many guides over the decades and these guides on this video are not any that I would want taking me on a trip.

[@richstex4736]

I did wonder at some of their actions.

[@restonthewind]

Who needs a life jacket when you're already exhausted and out of breath?

[@michaelp8856]

ADVICE - make sure your life jacket is so tight you almost can't breath - otherwise if it comes off and you are under water you WONT breath any more. tight life jackets everyone!

[@imtired2983]

Yasssss

[@Andingrid]

Crotchstraps save lifes ;D

[@syvbrewer6071]

My first thought as well, as soon as I saw the grab. That thing was too loose to even float her head above water, making it more of a hazard than a help.

[@k9er233]

@@Andingrid Absolutely.

[@richstex4736]

Except when you're actually taking a swim, a corseted PFD WILL restrict your ability to expand your diaphragm, severely degrading your ability for self-rescue. Since I've been wearing PFDs for decades I know the sweet spot for me between safety & breathing.

[@aaronalbury4836]

This was a great rescue guys only thing is the jacket shouldn't have gotten takin off till on shore

[@aaronlagos5863]

The pfd should have fit in the first place. But you're right.

[@Chompchompyerded]

@@aaronlagos5863 Absolutely right. PFD never off until dry land, unless the the PFD is caught on something. PFD = LIFE

[@imtired2983]

Yesssdd

[@Dogsrule777]

Good on you guys for the quick reaction! Bless that poor lady. That would freak me out!

[@remi3990]

This looks so fun! I wanna do it!!

[@kristinross5187]

Going to take somebody out with that T handle, get ahold of it man

[@lmkkwtmo471]

God, what incompetence! The fact that the guide was totally making sure she was ok at the end, but not bothered by the fact that they took off her helmet and PFD when they were still on the river!!

[@ksmith2852]

That is rafting in Costa Rica..incompetent

[@hanna.huston]

Dude the guide literally told the two men to take off her helmet and lifejacket 😂 pay attention at least if your gonna place blame, the incompetence was from the guide. 6:16 and 6:56 if you don’t believe me

[@lmkk9118]

@@hanna.huston Yes, I was placing the blame on the guide. That's why I used the word "incompetence"

[@poisonivy6477]

@@ksmith2852 literally stop. I was in costa rica a few weeks ago and the guides had a high sense of urgency. you let one video give you an irrational opinion.

[@art88]

No reason to take that life jacket off

[@kaderka89]

The jacket and helmet were making it harder for her to breathe, it looks like all the rapids were done by this point After a long swim, taking off a guests I’ll fitting pfd is often needed.

[@craiglenhard-rvrguyd]

As a guide for over 35 years you need to make sure the paddlers keep their PFD's buckled at all times. You never allow a guest to unbuckle in whitewater. This guide should have insisted that the guest assist this person by rebuckling the PFD.

[@AlbertoGarcia-np5db]

That was the most stupid decision, never take off the jacket when you are in the river.

[@candeecane9460]

The guides are not well trained in Costa Rica and take unnecessary risks with naive rafters--so dangerous I almost drown...if it had not been for the safety kayak---I was right next to the other boat and no one knew how to pull me in--complete disaster

[@poisonivy6477]

@@candeecane9460 I was in Costa Rica a few weeks ago and my guide was awesome. great sense of urgency.

[@terryknutson3202]

"Good grab Big Guy !!" i do not think most of these people that get in these rafts for some screams and laughs realize it can damn well be their "last boat ride." Period. End of Story..."The River does not care who you are."

[@DavidRatto-p7z]

I definitely realize it. That's why it's fun. No risk no fun.

[@gbrieannful]

Same happened thing to me, my life jacket was strapped tight but when I was in the water it started rising up, very scary.

[@ksmith2852]

Like someone else mentioned it should be uncomfortable. If not, it will be almost impossible for someone to pull you back on the raft without choking you because it will cut into your throat.

[@adamatch9624]

@@ksmith2852 they aren’t uncomfortable what’s likely happened is they were tightened top not button up

[@williambranham6249]

Good job. I wished they had been there for me last year. I drowned.

[@domenicyunker6976]

Um yup good luck with that next tine around

[@eljefe114]

Doubt it

[@williambranham6249]

@@eljefe114 Too bad. I was there. Were you?

[@IDYPLAYZ]

I tried to scream but my head was underwater😂😂😂

[@jorgeguzman5674]

I barely made it alive too. Just came back from doing naranjo river and the same thing happened. It took almost five minutes for.me.to be rescue. Got hit by so many rocks and the water keep pulling me.under. glad I did but never again. Is good to be alive

[@garryfmacdonald]

The bouyancy aid is so poorly fitting, far too large or not buckled up properly, that it floated but she fell deeper into the water due to lack of support.

[@candeecane9460]

Its because you have to retighten regularly the more you move the looser it can get--the guide should have told them to retighten

[@arsmigel]

For larger guests we use leg straps almost as a harness because sometimes people belly’s make it easier for the PFD to get up above their heads…….also wtf did they unbuckle her PFD

[@mikeymike1994]

Inadequate equipment for conditions...PFDs and helmets were crap.

[@obserwator6585]

Congratulations. A trip for the brave.

[@candeecane9460]

Costa Rica is a dangerous place for rafting as they have NO regulations for rafting companies and especially with the country being shut down from April thru November 1st they took quite an economic hit----I almost drown recently on the Sarapique River ALL the people on board were novice to river rafting including 3 teens --my own son and a 13 yr old and 15 yr old with NO PARENTS with them---these were class IV and III rapids and I had done those in Canada BUT the BIG difference is that in Canada the teams that take you have A LOT of training in safety and the guides actually pick the best ROUTE of the river based on the clients....our guide chose the HARDEST path and drove us into the belly of the beast OVEr and over for 2 hours...we were exhausted....whereas the OTHER guide took his boat around the hardest rapids---they didn't lose anyone nor did they flip....THE GUIDE can make a HuGE difference--I am so blessed that at LEAST we had a safety kayaker with us after 3 attempts he finally got me--but I was under for awhile thinking well crap....I'm going to die on this river---I am scuba certified, have been on swim team, climbed Mt Fuji, have ridden some very green horses but NOTHING compared to almost drowning...so scary....also the guide didn't bother to tell us to retighten our life jackets....they loosen as you do more and more rapids....due to movement---it is something a GOOD guide reminds you to do!

[@JupiterEarth]

Hi Candee, which tour and company was this?

[@poisonivy6477]

I went rafting at pacuare a few weeks ago and the guides did a great job.

[@DavidRomero-xk5up]

Rafting is swimming as well it has to happen for sure wherever, your comment has no sense at all, with your words you said were rescued by the safety kayaker, great job that's team safety! Costa Rican guides are top in the world on whitewater.

[@pkernoob786]

Thank God it's sounds like you've learned your lesson. Don't go anywhere near water again. The idea of potentially needing to self-rescue sounds foreign to you. "I climbed Mt. Fuji." Good for you. Stick to the easier to do tourist stuff. Worst case scenario you can sit down and wait to be rescued.

[@michaelkaniecki1998]

wooooow - close call for that lady!

[@bdh3949]

Little Miss "Let's go whitewater rafting" gave up and decided she wasn't gonna' paddle anymore and let everyone else take care of her putting the entire boat at risk. Lovely partner. I guess she thought she was at Disneyland or something. I would bet she never even wanted to get her feet wet.

[@laniakeadelapena7287]

Sorry but this is not for everyones.. that's all

[@noBearAdventures]

No offense, but not everyone needs to be doing things like this. You wouldn’t hand the keys to a lambo to a 90 year old prone to seizures… regardless of whether he thinks it’s a good idea. There should be some kind of basic minimum fitness test before you’re allowed to go out on a river. As in… can you do a push up.

[@23JMRH]

Why? They were fine on Big Splash Mountain Ride at the amusement park last week 🙄

[@noBearAdventures]

@@23JMRH 🤣🤣🤣

[@Jonahpwn]

My thoughts exactly. The sport isn’t for everyone and you have to be accountable for yourself. By all means i want everyone to be able to experience the river but fully relying on someone else to save you is beyond ignorant

[@Nunes769]

If you are not fit, don't take risks. The woman cannot move. looks like a tire

[@alowatsakima8950]

life jackets don't always keep you above the water when he water is moving fast. I have learned the water can actually push the life jacket underwater. Very dangerous in very long, fast moving water.

[@colliep6850]

Wow. So scary and thank goodness you guys were able to grab her. What class rapids was this trip?

[@steverogers5956]

I would say class 3 difficulty but continuous white water, which adds to the potential consequences of a swim. Much harder to rescue swimmers than it would be in a pool/drop river.

[@mrkoolio4475]

Take life jacket off of weak swimmer? That way, if she falls in again, it will be over quickly. Just dumB IMHO

[@jw1750]

Skip to 4:30 to save yourself 4 minutes and 30 seconds

[@MisterNorthernCanuck]

Am I wrong or they could have let her go with it and swim it through...? Is it a life jacket thing?

[@andresbk93]

Crapy helmet and no safety kayak, the lady was very lucky

[@besteversaw]

At 1:09 you could have ended up with summer teeth.

[@rastafari7415]

Summer in the boat, summer in the water, summer in ur mouth

[@arsmigel]

Lmao I was thinking the same thing that dude can’t paddle worth a damn and they aren’t in sync at all

[@steveo601]

Fantastic rescue.

[@H1TMANactual]

Unfit people shouldn't raft rapids

[@candeecane9460]

There were 22 year olds in GREAT shape that have died in Costa Rica in fact most of the people that have died in Costa Rica have been in good shape and range from 22 to 35 years old--so this is a naive statement--you could be Michael Phelps and you could not swim your ass out of a class IV rapid

[@H1TMANactual]

@@candeecane9460 If you could be Phelps and still drown then unfit people have even less of a chance, and most-definitely should not raft rapids. Thanks for making my argument.

[@pkernoob786]

Seriously... Idk why people that couldn't swim 50 feet in calm waters feel the need to go whitewater rafting.

[@autothaiman52]

Here is equal rights for male and female. Even with life preserver almost drown on 0 grade river.

[@antbanks7548]

bro that river was pretty fast.

[@joshevans4015]

This is not a grade zero river. Not even close.

[@johnwayne5620]

Maybe a 3 but, not a 0.

[@steveo601]

That was her lucky 🍀 day. That vest didn’t fit and she wasn’t above water. A few more minutes and she was a gonner

[@ulimerckens9925]

Hallo, what was the name of the river? Thanks for the answer.

[@dogtop19]

her life jacket was to big that is just as dangers as not wearing one. I would never get into a boat with a life jacket that doesn't fit me correctly.

[@oscarlabarca5371]

you don't know much about river gear, don't you?

[@incorrectczvystrizky]

knees of that lady. Pain ://

[@sfcowan78]

that pfd was way too loose on her

[@smarttraveler2964]

It was a 1-2 or 3-4 Excursion?what is the name of the river

[@traviskelly3069]

Looks like Class 3 stuff, but they swam a pretty long section it looks like.

[@richstex4736]

What river?

[@ronn6471]

Sit her up and tighten her life vest, Do Not Take Off

[@armandofloresgutierrez9373]

Y donde estaban los kayakeros de seguridad

[@poisonivy6477]

exactly!!!!

[@judefranczyk]

That girl needed to move out of the way once the got her on to the raft incase they needed to get more people

[@NathanMills1]

Which river was this?

[@poisonivy6477]

probably pacuare

[@oscarlabarca5371]

probably? if you don't know why the 'opinion'?

[@duncanmitch8088]

​@@oscarlabarca5371wtf is your problem? A probable answer is better than no answer

[@naochago]

People do not realize the risk and danger of water until they actually get hurt, or worst case killed. I guess these people including this lady imagine a safe fun ride on water, but white water is not safe at all. You can get killed easily. People should be aware before they decide to join the ride.

[@ICryWhenICum001]

Why was there no safety kayaker?

[@ParanormalBoom]

I went white water rafting with a guide who was the designated safety rafter. Although we were also rafting, we had a good team of rafters who followed instructions and actually managed to save two rafts in a IV+ rapid. I don't think it needs to be a kayak specifically, but rather someone who knows what they're doing. Our guide was amazing and we had loads of fun.

[@pixidox6310]

Wulfy yes but a safety kayaker can maneuver better and get to the person way faster than a raft can. Those raft looked like bumper cars on that rapid

[@boomshakti5559]

True dat

[@candeecane9460]

We had 2 kayakers ( one safety and one camera man that could act as backup safety) with our company with us but there were other companies on the river with NO ONE...Costa Rica has NO regulations and therefore you life is in someone elses "poor"judgement....Canada and the US have lots of safety regulations but in Costa Rica the companies "regulate"themselves....our guide just said pick who you want to raft with....instead of looking at age, skill, weight etc....ridiculous

[@isaacmont3623]

That river is moving so fast.

[@ksmith2852]

I paddle many rivers..but not Costa Rica..for exactly what happened here. Guides are not properly trained, get left/right mixed up, tell people to take a life jacket off while in the water. On their rivers there are non stop class 2 or 3 waters..no resting pools. If/when you get tossed out it will be a long swim over rocks. Read about rafting deaths in Costa Rica. I am sure this woman will never want to go again; who can blame her?

[@poisonivy6477]

damn this was only one video lmao

[@bayousbambino427]

She shouldn't have gone in the first place. She's entirely incapable of doing anything physical.

[@pkernoob786]

She shouldn't have gone in the first place. She should be at epcot.

[@jeromeazevedo-v3c]

Crocodile 🐊 s??? 😬

[@mudcielago]

Quedo como membrillo la gringa pero bien

[@deepakverma9097]

All right there baby🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AndrewKHSmith]

Why does a pregnant woman go rafting???

[@gioescamilla5187]

NEVER TAKE OFF YOUR LIFE JACKET AND KEEP YOUR HANDS ON YOUR BUTTS

[@juann8816]

Me di cuenta q las medidas de seguridad son pobres, no veo kayakista ni un bote de rescate por las orillas y además las personas no usan el traje de neopreno.

[@DavidRomero-xk5up]

Si claro en Costa Rica hace mucho frío!!!

[@culturabuzios3000]

Fat peoples can rafting? Esta fuera de estado esa senora , como le permiten hacer este paseo ? Que locura

[@Healthyhabits06]

😂😂😂

[@pascalnicoud1960]

Really bad rescue management...

[@rebelrevolution22]

paddlers 0/5

[@Катай-тур]

спасательный жилет для смертников.

[@thejesusatlife]

Yardsale

[@ronnynavarro2035]

Río savegre?

[@kaderka89]

Or balsa?

[@eljefe114]

Hectic

[@ajaymaurya6770]

Please visit in rishikesh (india) for best rafting

[@hipernet]

what a mess haha

[@colemanbennett4857]

why do non athletic ppl try to do athletic shit

[@adamatch9624]

Because it’s how you get in shape she was able to go rafting just the guides didn’t have thing in place for her

[@colemanbennett4857]

@@adamatch9624 nah my guy you go get into shape to BE ABLE to raft high level rapids you don’t do this to get into shape, not even high level just rafting in general should not be the workout you should be able to physically do to if you wanna do it

[@pkernoob786]

​@adamatch9624 ur slow my guy.

[@grahamrobertson9676]

Criminal reckless endangerment in my considered opinion

[@johnadams-rx6gf]

shut up you fucking twat

[@FirstnameLastname-jp1pj]

this is why fat people should not go rafting. Please tip your guide.

[@fossilpro]

"Hi, I'll gatekeep who goes rafting. Pay me" man, you must make the big bucks. How about being a decent guide and taking care any guest that needs met?

[@kamalkulkarni3575]

Stupid guy it doesn't matter that the man or women is fat or thin it just need to follow the instructions of rafting man 👿

[@williambranham6249]

It's ok. Fat is buoyant . I know I'm a fat buoy 😁

[@hmosakowski8685]

Walmart people who are fat should say in the hotel and not raft class 2 white water!!!!!!

[@kamalkulkarni3575]

Stupid guy it doesn't matter that the man or women is fat or thin it just need is to follow the instructions of the rafting man that sit👿

[@candeecane9460]

yet another naive statement if you look at the deaths in Costa Rica most of the people that have died have been aged 22 to 35 and have been in really good shape

[@billygauthier9512]

@@candeecane9460 I doubt being in good shape is the reason those people in Costa Rica die each year. People who are fit generally have better muscular control and balance than overweight people. I've met a lot of people who lost weight and said they feel much more agile. I've never met anyone who gain fat and said they are more athletic now. Unexperienced and unathletetic people in a whitewater boat just makes it more dangerous for everyone on the water.

[@bayousbambino427]

@@billygauthier9512 Have you seen Phil Kessel? 😂 But, I joke. You are correct.

[@pkernoob786]

​@candeecane9460 why do you keep posting the same comment? You might as well say that mostly young people die from any athletic sport... doesn't mean that it's a good idea for unathletic people to start any adrenaline filled sport in their 60's.

[@lukpo1997]

Typical Americans 😂 glad she is okay. I hope the corporation and the guides learn about this

[@weirdbeard1980]

Not typical where I'm from.

[@lukpo1997]

@@weirdbeard1980 sorry, I ment typical American tourists

[@weirdbeard1980]

@@lukpo1997 yeah, unfortunately there's probably an element of truth there. Portly and unable to do anything to aid in her own survival. But there's a lot of us over here and there are plenty of good ones. I think it's sort of like yelp reviews. The negative experiences are the ones you hear about most and the good ones go without any fanfare.

[@candeecane9460]

Wow shitty statement. Costa Rica is a MESS they need to regulate their rafting operations like the US and Canada so people don't have to die. River Rafting is a fun but NOT with inexperienced, BIG EGO Costa Rican guides that make you feel like they have experience when they themselves have only been rafting 9 months but they say 10 years....pathetic!

[@JupiterEarth]

Few Costa Rican guides are certified professionals and the rest are just guys who yell and pose for the pictures. Shame of these tour operators.

[@ajaymaurya6770]

Search on KZbin rishikesh rafting

[@elijahnaz11]

Why?