Cangrejal river rafting accident
In a tragic accident on Sunday afternoon, a 52-year-old North American tourist drowned while river rafting on the Rio Cangrejal with a tour company. The man's name was Eric Simons and the newspaper reported that he was from Colorado, Illinois, but that has since been corrected by reader to be Boulder, Colorado.
I imagine that the river is high and rough since we have had a lot of rain lately. I've read that the rapids range from level I to level IV, depending upon the location in the river and the time of year. Also, from reading lots of travelogues, I know that rough and wild is exactly the type of river rafting trip that many people are looking for.
Yesterday's noon news reported that he fell out of the raft and that the guide tried to rescue him but the man panicked and almost drowned the guide as well. His body was recovered some two kilometers down the river.
There are two reasons that I bring up this accident:
News of any tourists accidents is always bad news for tourism. People will remember this one man who drowned long after they have forgotten the tens (or hundreds?) of thousands of people who had a wonderful experience on the Rio Cangrejal. Police authorities "launched a call to tour operators to avoid more human loss in the rainy season," whatever that means.
Based on the names reported, I believe that this was the very same guide that I used in my long ago river rafting trip and the owner of the tour company, who also joined our rafting group, was on the trip as well. They have been operating for many years in La Ceiba.
If you have been reading this blogicito for very long, then you know that if I thought (in my not so humble opinion) that the guides took unreasonable risks or that if the equipment was substandard or that proper precautions were not taken, I would tell you.
My opinion is actually quite the opposite. Although I'm a good swimmer, not being a particularly brave or adventuresome person (except with words), I didn't even plan to go down the river. I paid my fee for the trip but I was going to follow along with the driver and take photos, which I was perfectly happy and content to do. The guides begged and encouraged me to take the raft instead because they wanted me to have fun. I finally relented.
I don't remember all the details, but we were required to wear a helmet and life vest, and we spent the first 15-30 minutes learning safety measures, including what to do if we fell out of the raft or if it overturned. It wasn't just talking; we had to practice floating feet first down the river. The guides spoke excellent English and there were no communication problems.
During one part of the trip, we stopped and climbed up a mountain through the jungle to swim in a secluded pool formed from the rocks. It wasn't easy climbing (for me) and at one point, I slipped and scraped my leg. It was no big deal − more injury to my pride than anything − but the guides insisted upon stopping, pulling out their first aid kit and doctoring up my shin. After that, one of the guides stayed close, grabbing my arm whenever my feet slipped on the muddy earth.
I felt perfectly secure with the guides. I never doubted my safety with them. I thought they were extremely well trained and knowledgeable. I believe that they gear their trips based on the experience and wishes of the customer.
Cultural differences
The other reason I brought this up was to talk about cultural differences. During the news report, in an interview with the forensic doctor, he stated the man's age three times and twice went into a long discussion of how this was a sport for young people 20-22-25 years old, not for old people. My mouth fell open listening to this.
I was shocked to hear the doctor proclaim that a 52-year-old shouldn't be river rafting and I imagine that those of you who run a marathon at 60 years old or are in your 50's and 60's and are in better shape than many others who are in their 20's are amazed to hear that, too.
I didn't know Eric Simons and have no information about his physical condition or what kind of rafting trip he asked for. It was a tragic accident, but I think it was just that, an accident, and that only the forces of the river are to blame, not the tour operators or guides or Mr. Simons himself.
My condolences go to Eric Simons' family.
23 comments:
Tragedy. Fifty-two is definately not to old to go rafting if one is in shape and experienced or even a novice with a good guide. I don't think there is such town called Colorado, Illinois though.
Could be wrong, have been before.
One of the best posts you've written Gringa. I concur in all respects. The .02 I would add is that this is one of the reasons that we, and others, choose adventure travel as opposed to Disney World. The river is real, not fake. It can hurt you, respect it. Adventure is just that, good and bad. We are looking forward to rafting this river on our next trip and appreciate your endorsement of the guides. Cheers
Well I'm 52, and I was kinda looking forward to doing the Cangrejal if I ever would go back to Honduras (hell freezing over? scheduled soon!). But now that the good doctor has proclaimed me to be too old, well I guess that's off! Oh well... Scratch that off my List Of Things To Do Before I Die. Sad about the guy from Colorado...or was it Illinois? But sadly, accidents do happen.
Well then if any of you guys feel old then birding is up your alley, and believe me its quite dangerous also if you are looking for adrenaline pumping sorts of things...Ive almost died twice in birding related incidents, so in conclusion any outdoor activity is potentially catastrophic.
Your rafting guides sound at least as well prepared as the ones I had on my rafting adventure in California, if not better. The victim's panic was what killed him, it seems to me. And might have killed his rescuer too. Anybody, any age, can panic. But rafting (except for the rocks) is not so different than swimming in big surf. You get rolled around and submerged, get water up your nose, feel some panic and you have to get past it. Because in big surf, there's nobody to fish you out and put you in a nice, dry boat.
Did I miss something or was he not wearing a life jacket??
Things sure have changed here since I took a rafting trip near Manuel Antonio, CR. In 2000, they did not use helmets but we did have jackets. The river slowed down so the guides thought it would be funny to push us off into the river with their paddles. I was sitting by the guide and when he tried to push me in, I grabbed him between the legs (yes, his jewels) and he held onto my arm for dear life. I didn't go in the river. I was 45 yrs old at the time and that was my LAST rafting trip.
Thank you for your condolences, La Gringa, and for posting this information. I will let Rick's family know. He was one of my best friends for 29 years. He traveled all over the world and has rafted, climbed, hiked and participated in regular sports and adventurous activities at home and in many countries and weather situations. His age is irrelevant to river running; he was fit and had 20 years of river experience. We know he was afraid of water; he felt the need to challenge his fear in this manner. Please let me clarify that he has lived in Boulder, Colorado since 1979. He was a prominent member of the community here, widely respected and deeply loved by many people of all ages. We will bury him tomorrow. It was just a tragic accident.
Andis, the newspapers here often butcher English names and locations, so I hesitated to even mention the location. I don't know why the reporters don't verify the spelling. As you can see from Polly's comment, the location was wrong.
Trey, thanks for your comments. If there wasn't some risk, it wouldn't be an adventure, would it? I hope that you have a good rafting trip and have as good an experience as I did.
Bob, as someone who flies a helicopter for a living, I would think that river rafting would be tame for you. I wonder what the cut off date for ending your life is in Honduras -- 50? 40? 30? The doctor seemed to think it was 25.
Daniel, good point. Accidents can happen anywhere, anytime, including doing something that on the surface sounds as tame as bird watching. It's just a fact of life and we can't just all sit down in front of the TV when we turn 50!
1st Mate, good comments. I think the thing about panic attacks is that you don't know in advance when it is going to happen and you do lose control and forget the things that you know you should be doing. I have no doubt that the guides have fished lots of people out of the river over the years or we would have heard of many more accidents. It is a real shame that they were unable to do so, but I don't think it was for lack of training.
Alinoluna, I'm sure that he was wearing a life vest. When I complained about having to wear the helmut, they said tough luck, wear it. I'm only speculating, but I would guess that he started swallowing water and that is probably what understandably started his panic.
Tica macha! Not a fun experience! I've only had the one experience here, but it was definitely nothing like that.
Thank you for writing, Polly. I'm sorry that I had the location wrong and glad that you corrected it.
I hope that it gives some comfort to Rick's family to accept that it was a tragic accident and not a result of something that was known and could have been prevented.
I agree that his age is completely irrelevant.
Thank you again for taking the time to comment and I'll correct the city in the article.
Indeed this was a tragic accident, and as another very close friend to Rick here in Boulder, Colorado, I can only say that I've personally come to grips with it all knowing that Rick died living his life to fullest, traveling and experiencing the challenge of a wild white-water river. Age was not the issue. Rick Simons had traveled to more than 60 countries, more than most of us will ever visit in our lifetimes. If he had returned, he immediately would have been planning his next world travel, and it would have including further outdoor challenges. I'm sure we will learn more details as Rick's traveling friends return, but your post was the first to report on the guide's rescue attempts. Here in Colorado, several people drown every year on fully accredited raft trips using all safety measures. There's always risk to river running, but that doesn't mean the sport or the people who guide on rivers can ever prevent accidents. You have to expect there's a very good chance you'll end up in the river on a rafting trip, and of course, sometimes life jackets and even helmets cannot prevent hitting a rock or getting tugged into a horrible current. I would bet that Rick was shouting with glee and exhilaration just before he was tossed from the raft. That's the image I want to keep in my mind when we attend his memorial service tomorrow.
Jerry, I think that vision of your friend will be comforting to you.
I've been meaning to mention the current -- it is extremely and surprisingly strong. I've been in parts of the river where I could hardly stand up in it even though in those spots the water was less than knee high.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. My condolences to you on the loss of your friend.
La gringa
I was on that raft when this accident occured. The guide Johnny started us farther upriver than we should have been. Omega tours will not even start that far upriver due to the dangerous conditions of the river. The guide missed the first left turn from our start point and we dropped into a class 5 hole. All four of us were thrown from the raft into the water. I personally estimate I was carried one kilometer throw the rapids befor I was able to self arrest and pull myself from the water on the right banks. I am a stong swimmer and it took all of my energy to pull myself out of the various rapids I was dragged under while in the arrest position and then swimming bfore being dragged under time and time again. On e of my rafting partners was clinging to a rock about fifty yards downstream from me and was pulled from the water by a local who swam across the river with a rope.As hard as the guide worked to save our friend,which he did at risk to his own life, I feel that we were put at greater risk than neccesary. I was informed that afternoon by one of the jungle river employees that one of their guides had been killed in that same hole four years earlier while rafting with other guides.
Thanks for giving a first-hand report from someone who was there, Rick. It sounds like a terrifying experience and I'm glad that you and your other friend made it through.
I'm also glad to hear that the reports that the guide tried to save Eric at risk to his own life were true, though I'm very sorry that those efforts were unsuccessful.
As I mentioned, I'm a neophyte, so I can't comment on the location or whether or not the other tour company rafts in that area.
I would just urge caution in relying on what people say after an accident as sometimes people just want to place blame somewhere. Please remember that in Honduras, the culture is to respond with an answer that they think the person wants to hear.
My condolences to you on the loss of your friend.
I disagree La Gringa with your comments on what others say.The comments about Omega trips was made by the owner of Omega as we sat on the riverbanks at Jungle expeditions as my friends body was lying there covered with a sheet less than an hour after he died. Pretty compelling statements by a man of good authority on the river we had just been rafting in.This is from a man who sends people out on raft trips everyday as does Jungle expeditions.This gentleman also is not a native Honduran, and I seriously doubt he was trying to tell me what I wanted to hear. This is exactly what I did not want to hear. I would also like to add that the comment to me about the Jungle expedition guide that was killed 4 years earlier in the same hole was from a Jungle expedition employee as we sat waitng for the Laceiba police to come to investigate the death. Rick
Rick, thank you for the clarification. I am so very sorry for what you and your friend went through and the tragic death of Eric.
My name is Steve and I was also on the raft when the accident occured. Rick's comments accurately describe the event, the river conditions,and the unneccesary risk in which we were placed. First I will describe myself. I am 6 feet tall, weigh 170 lbs.,am physically fit,and am in excellent health. I swam AAU as an adolescent and was on the high school swim team. I am a very strong swimmer and have always felt extremely at home in water and well prepared and experienced for any water emergency situation. I live on a recreational lake and have participated in all manners of water sports for the great majority of my life. I will be 57 years old in December. Had I not been there and I only read a news report about this accident, I too would likely have made the same incorrect assumptions regarding inexperienced middle aged tourists getting what they asked for and looking for someone to blame.
Now for my personal additional comments about our guide Johnny's rescue attempts and the unneccesary risks. The start point of our rafting was only 20-30 feet upstream from the missed left turn that dropped us into the class 5 hole.With the speed and power of the water flow this took seconds to occur.A major unneccesary risk to use that start point. I was thrown from the raft and I immediately assumed the feet forward arrest position.The tremendous power that kept dragging me under felt as if someone was holding my ankles down.When I was nearing the end of my ability to continue holding my breath it took most of my energy to pop up for a gasp of air.The second struggle out of the force dragging me under I popped up and Johnny, alone in the raft, had managed to manuever the raft in a perfect rescue position and I took advantage as he quickly helped me into the front of the raft.Had the raft not been there and if the cycle of being dragged under continued there likely would have been two deaths. From my vantage point sitting on floor in the front of the raft without a paddle as Johnny desparately and successfully kept us from capsizing as we continued through the rapids trying to catch up to both Ricks that were far downstream from us, I saw the sole onshore helper throw a saftey line from atop the boulder wall on shore that landed behind the two rapidly moving fellow rafters. There were no other people on shore, no other ropes, just one teenage boy that missed his targets that were approximately 20 feet form shore. Considering the recent heavy rains and the dangerous drop ahead this was another major unneccesary risk.River conditions as they were called for at least another boy or two as back ups. When Johnny realized we could not catch up to the one of our group that was rapidly proceeding down stream, he put us ashore where Johnny and I ran down the boulder shore to a higher point where we saw Rick Simons disappear from view. As we were running there Johnny shouted out to me that if my friend could not get out of the river very soon he would be taken over a drop that is extremely dangerous resulting in very very bad injuries. He was correct.
Steve, thank you for sharing your first hand experience of the rafting accident. I'm sure that it isn't easy to talk about.
Although you believe that unnecessary risks were taken, it sounds like the guide Johnny did an incredible job of saving your life and did everything he could to save Eric. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Rick and Steve,
It was an unfortunate, irreversible misjudgement. Celebrate your survival.
La Gringa, contrary to what people may think, pilots are generally *not* risk-takers. We assess risk carefully and work hard to minimize it. Most of us are not daredevils.
So let's talk about risk.
A group of men come to a third-world country called Honduras to do a little river rafting. The river in question (like all rivers in Honduras) can vary greatly in speed and volume of water. They engage an outfit to take them on this journey - KNOWING that the usual safety precautions that we take for granted in the U.S. (OSHA, our rule of law, etc.) are severely lacking or nonexistent. Then a bad accident happens and one of them dies.
Another in the party says that they were knowingly put into the river at a wrong place and this constituted an "unnecessary risk." Ah, lawyer-speak! Gotta love Americans.
No. The unnecessary risk was going river rafting in Honduras in the first place. Or just going to Honduras in the first place! Some people need to have their heads examined for the silly risks to life and limb they so casually take. Honduras ain't Disneyland.
And another thing. I love how people will use a fatality from some time ago to "prove" something is too dangerous or whatever. "Well, a guide died here four years ago in this very spot!" Yeah? One death in four years? So what. Call me back if we start seeing one death per season. We get at least that many here on Pensacola Beach but you don't hear people calling for anything to be done about it. Because it is understood that certain things involve certain risks.
I am deeply sorry for the loss that is felt by the friends and family of the deceased man. It is very sad.
But you know what? Bad stuff happens. I know it may sound heartless and cruel, but they're all adults. They all knew the risks they were taking - or should have known. If they assumed that the river rafting guides were well-trained in accordance with some safety standard as they would be (or maybe not!) in the U.S., or that the company itself was subject to some oversight or government scrutiny, then they were fools.
We Americans like to apply our standards for...well...everything to other countries and other cultures. It can be a very jarring, painful experience to find out you were wrong.
Me? I think they should consider themselves lucky that only one of their party died. The others probably don't know how close they all came...and I'm just talking about on the taxi ride over from the La Ceiba airport.
this is rick's widow. I am a little confused. How could the guide be saving my husband's life and be still in the boat?? Hmmm, don't get it.
Rick was in amazing shape, he did everything that was fun. If this company had not deviated from their original plan, being that they should have been able to contol the boat and go down safe rapids, my husband would still be alive.
As much as you all want to "justify" his death because he was "old" that is absolute bull. He travelled the world, he was totally into adventure and was in great shape.
I am absolutely heartbroken.
I am angry that you made a wrong turn, yes, in essence you killed my husband. If you hadn't, he would be alive. YOU, YOUR COMPANY, screwed up big time. So, don't lie, and don't make excuses.
You NEVER should have gone out on that river that day. It was swollen from the rains. YOU lost control and should take absolute responsibility for killing my amazing, wonderful, gorgeous husband.
Laurie
I'm very sorry for your loss, Laurie, and I understand your anger.
I reported what the La Ceiba forensic doctor stated on television about your husband's age, but neither I nor any of the other commenters agreed with it. I'm sorry that you misunderstood that.
I assume that your last comments are directed at the tour company but unfortunately, I doubt that they are reading this.
I'm sure that you've spent a lot of time worrying about your husband when he was off on his adventures, because after all, what makes something an adventure is the potential danger.
The river can't be controlled like a Disneyland ride. I don't know that anyone could ever guarantee "safe rapids." Based on the comments about your husband from his friends, it seems to me that he wouldn't have been interested in a trip that guaranteed safe rapids.
Jerry mentioned that several people are killed rafting each year in Colorado. If accidents can't be prevented in the U.S. where the laws and regulations are so strong and the threats of lawsuits are so great, then I wouldn't expect that it would be any different here in Honduras.
I hope with the passage of time that you can find peace.
As a dear friend of one of the survivors, I am aware of how traumatizing this loss is for the many family and friends who lost this great man. My heart-felt condolences to all who were affected. "Monday-morning quarterbacking" is so natural as one tries in vain to find an explanation to live with, but in the end it becomes an exercise in self torture. There is no explanation that is sufficient to make the loss endurable. I'm sure that everyone involved --Rick, the guide, the other 4 friends -- were doing everything in their power to make life-saving decisions and deal with the powerful rapids at each turn of events. How utterly awful to have to go through.
Yes, Janice, it is awful and it is human nature to look for explanations and someone or something to blame after a tragedy -- possibly even more so for N. Americans, because we are so used to protections in the form of laws and regulations and 'justice' in the form of lawsuits if the proper standards weren't met.
In Honduras, I think that the culture of "Si Dios quiere" would result in the family and friends having a little easier time accepting the tragedy because it was "God's will." Not that this is right or wrong, it's just the way I think it would be.
I know that there is nothing I can say to help ease Laurie's pain, but I keep thinking about this and wondering how I would feel if it was my husband. I would be angry, too, if I thought that the guide was reckless or didn't do everything possible to save him.
On the other hand, I'm sure that every rafting trip in the US or Canada requires the signing of a waiver in case of injury or death to prevent lawsuits against the company because it is a dangerous sport and not a Disneyland ride where your safety is engineered and can be guaranteed. That is a choice that Rick made. If he wanted to start the trip in the easier class II or III rapids, he would have been accommodated. I am NOT blaming the victim -- just saying that he was an experienced rafter and apparently wanted an adventure. It turned out to be a tragic adventure that everyone regrets.
Thanks for your comments, Janice, and Bob.
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