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 -Published: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 More
than 100 deaths from drowning this year
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Red Cross reports 117 people dead by drowning during this year, from January to last Saturday. According to the agency, during December 11 people died due to drowning in a water accident. The most recent drowning death happened Christmas Day, when an officer of the National Coast Guard, surnamed Janor-López was dragged by the Claro River current near Corcovado National Park on the Pacific coast south of the country. According to Martín Arias-Araya, director of the National Coast Guard, several officers were working in a patrolling operation when about 5 p.m. López tried to cross the river and was dragged by the current. According to the authorities, the search and rescue operation was immediately carried out, which included the support of a team of Red Cross divers. Unfortunately, the body of López was not found until the next day, last Thursday. One incident that did not result in a death happened the day after Christmas when the National Coast Guard Service reported having saved the lives of two people who had become stranded in their kayak near the Caldera port in Puntarenas. According to the Coast Guard report, the couple, a man and a woman, both 58, had been dragged by the currents with no chance of returning to the mainland by their own means. The woman surnamed Sánchez-Mairena was in the kayak, and her husband, surnamed Bolaños-López, was in the water, holding onto the kayak. In addition to rescuing the two tourists, the Coast Guard also managed to take out of the sea the kayak reported to be “almost completely sunk" and take the two people to the Caldera port. According to the Coast Guard, both people were in good health. For that reason was not necessary to take them to a clinic, the agency said. According to the authorities of the National Coast Guard, tourists must be sure if the sailing vehicles as kayaks, watercraft or water scooter and boats are save for sailing. According to Arias-Araya, tourists should increase safety measures to avoid accidents. For example, they should not enter the sea after drinking liquor, food or medicines that may reduce the ability to react in the water. In addition, the authorities recommend learning about the dangerous nature of each beach by reading the warning signs or asking information to the authorities or residents of the coastal communities. According to the Coast Guards, not all beaches have lifeguards, so it is the duty of tourists to know the level of danger of the beach they are visiting. Another recommendation is asking any water tour operator if the navigability certificate of the boat up to date, verify if they have enough life jackets, which must be in good condition and by no reason agree to sail if all occupants do not have their vests properly placed. Tourists must also ask the tour operator to have the appropriate civil liability insurance policies, which is the minimum requirement to protect people in the event of an accident. Another piece of advice is to request requests the tour operators not to exceed the capacity of the boat, "because many times more passengers get on board than the number the ship can allow," said the authorities in its statement. ------------------------ What other advice would you give tourists to avoid water accidents? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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More than 400,000 vehicle owners have not
paid the marchamo road tax yet
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