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Three Dead After Tourist Boat Sinks off Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast

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20 August 2024 - At The Banks - Source: BCCR

The sinking of the catamaran tour boat this morning in Costa Rica’s Pacific waters near Jacó claimed the lives of three people. The other 106 passengers and crew survived thanks to the rescue efforts by local boats near the shipwreck and relief agencies.

The accident occurred shortly before 10:00am, near Punta Leona beach, north of Herradura. The tour boat had left Herradura around 8:00am.

According to the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), the three deceased were identified as Sharon Johsnton (70 years) from Canada, Edna Oliver (68 years) from the United States and 80 year old Ivor Stanley Hopkins, from England.

Originally four people were reported having died. In Jacó, rumours spread that a fifth had perished on the way to hospital. However, by late in the afternoon, at a press a 4:00pm press conference by Vice-President, Ana Elena Chacón, confirmed that three people had deceased and 106 had been rescued.

“It’s a sad day for our country, that receives so many tourists,” said Chacón.

President Luis Guillermo Solís, from China (who is on an official tour of the Asian country until Friday) sent a message from his Twitter account.

Only 11 of the 109 people aboard (99 tourists and 10 crew) were Costa Ricans.

One of the first survivors, Arcelio Garcia, said the catamaran rolled over very quickly. “It was horrible. When I sa the caption come out and the choppy sea I said, something is happening.”

Stella Hopkins, an Argentine and the wife of the British victim, said she had thought that the boat would turn around because the sea was choppy, but the crew decided to continue the cruise.

Speculation is the strong winds and prevailing waves could have been the cause of the accident. Hector Chaves, head of the Bomberos said they ruled out a possible fire on board.

Costa Rica has been experiencing exceptionally strong winds this week. On the Caribbean coast, waves up to almost 5 metres (15 feet) have been battering the port city of Limón. In the Central Valley (San José), winds have uprooted trees and downed power lines in many communities.

The rescue efforts were coordinated by the Cruz Roja (Red Cross), the Guardacostas (Coast Guard) and Bomobers (Fire Department) that gathered their efforts at the Herradura (Los Sueños) marina.

A catamaran is a twin hulled design normally thought to be more stable in rough seas. The ocean generated a heavy chop due to high winds that have assaulted the country this week. The vessel carried life preservers for 174, reported La Nacion.

Chaves said the catamaran sank quickly, within minutes in the 170 metres (550 feet) deep waters, and required the help of divers.

The capsized boat is owned by the company Pura Vida Princess, that provides tours to Tortuga Island.

The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) – Ministry of Public Works and Transportation – was quick to confirm that the boat, a 2007 Ecoquest with the identification P11400 had its certificate of seaworthiness, meaning it had met all the safety requirements to operate.

The Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) – state insurer – confirmed that company has injury and death insurance coverage.

At the ready was the nearest hospital in Puntarenas after the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS) declared a red alert for all medical facilities in the area of the accident, to accept possible patients.

In the end, all the passengers were rescued, only two required medical attention at the Puntarenas hospital.

This is not the first accident at sea. Since 1997 at least six shipwrecks have been reported on Costa Rica’s coasts.

The accident is sure to have a repercussion on the country’s tourist image internationally.

Canal 9 news reported that the company, located in Jaco, closed its doors today and cancelled all bookings, leaving employees uncertain if they have a job tomorrow.

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Horrifying Video from Costa Rica: Sinking 100-Foot Catamaran Claims 3 Lives

A catamaran carrying more than 100 people capsized and sank off the coast of Costa Rica, claiming the lives of three elderly passengers. The horrifying video, filmed on a GoPro by 21-year-old Alexis Esneault, shows the boat tipping over as water quickly consumes the upper deck.

“At first I had no idea it was so serious. As long as we could have our Margaritas, I was fine,” Esenault old The Sun . “But then very quickly it became clear that there was a serious problem. People were sliding down the boat and screaming. It happened very quickly.”

Panicking passengers in lifejackets were quickly consumed by the surging water, trapping several of them under the canopy of the catamaran. The three elderly people who died in the incident are identified as Briton Ivor Stanley Hopkins, 80, American Edna Oliver, 68, and Canadian Sharon Johnson, 70.

The incident occurred in January of last year, but the footage has not been released until now.

Prior to departure, the National Meteorological Institute had issued a warning about strong winds in the region, but authorities said the boat was properly permitted and authorized by the port captain to set sail.

Our thoughts go out to the friends and families of the deceased.

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3 dead in tourist catamaran wreck off Costa Rica

A catamaran carrying dozens of foreign tourists on a pleasure cruise capsized off Costa Rica on Thursday, killing three people, emergency officials said.

The boat, which was on a day trip to the popular Tortuga (Turtle) Island, sank completely about 9 miles (15 kilometers) off the country’s central Pacific Coast.

Firefighters Corps director Hector Chavez said initial reports of an explosion and fire were mistaken. Survivors reported that strong waves filled the boat with water and caused it to sink, he said. He also lowered the death toll to three, saying that one of the dead had been counted twice.

The country’s Public Security Ministry said in a Twitter posting that one of the victims was a U.S. citizen and another was from Britain.

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Private boats in the area took in passengers until rescuers arrived.

The tour operator reported that the Pura Vida Princess, a 100-foot catamaran, left Marina Los Suenos in the morning with 98 passengers and a crew of 10.

Rescuers had recovered 94 people from the shipwreck and taken them to two emergency centers on land. Authorities were awaiting the arrival of one last rescue boat to make a complete accounting of those on board.

According to the Pura Vida Princess website, the Tortuga Island day trip costs $125 and includes meals, a DJ, snorkeling and open bar.

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Three Killed in Catamaran Accident Off Costa Rica

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Photo: Pura Vida Princess

Three people have been killed after a commercial catamaran carrying close to 100 passengers capsized and sank during a pleasure cruise off of Costa Rica Thursday morning.

The Associated Press reports that the vessel is operated by Pura Vida Princess and, according to the company, the 100-foot motorized catamaran departed from Marina Los Suenos in the morning with 98 passengers and a crew of 10.

Pura Vida Princess’ website says the company offers all-inclusive day trips to Tortuga Island located off of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, departing from Herradura Beach next to Los Suenos Marina.

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Three dead, four missing after tourist boat sinks off Costa Rica

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Canadian among 3 dead after catamaran capsizes in Costa Rica

Costa Rican police and emergency workers await the arrival of tourists who were rescued after a catamaran sank off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, in the port of Caldera, Costa Rica, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. The catamaran carrying foreign tourists was on a pleasure cruise when it capsized, emergency officials said. (AP / Enrique Martinez)

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- A Canadian is one three people who died after a catamaran carrying dozens of foreign tourists on a pleasure cruise capsized off Costa Rica on Thursday, emergency officials said.

The boat, which was on a day trip to the popular Tortuga (Turtle) Island, sank completely about 15 kilometres off the country's central Pacific Coast.

Firefighters Corps director Hector Chavez said initial reports of an explosion and fire were mistaken. Survivors reported that strong waves filled the boat with water and caused it to sink, he said.

Chavez said three people died. The Public Security Ministry said in a Twitter posting that the victims were a U.S. citizen, the Canadian and a man from Britain.

There were no further details on the Canadian. Canada's foreign affairs department confirmed a Canadian had died but could not provide further information citing privacy concerns.

"Canadian consular officials in Costa Rica are in contact with local authorities and are providing consular assistance to the family during this difficult time," the department said in an email.

It was not immediately known if any other Canadians were on board the catamaran.

Vice-President Ana Helena Chacon said at a news conference that 106 people were rescued, meaning all of the cruise's 99 passengers and 10 crew were accounted for.

"We want to extend our condolences to the victims' families," Chacon said.

The National Meteorological Institute had issued a warning about strong winds buffeting the country this week, but authorities said the boat was properly permitted and authorized by the port captain to set sail.

Private boats in the area took in passengers until rescuers arrived. They were later transported to two emergency centres on shore.

The tour operator reported that the Pura Vida Princess, a 100-foot catamaran, left Marina Los Suenos on Thursday morning.

According to the Pura Vida Princess website, the Tortuga Island day trip costs $125 and includes meals, a DJ, snorkeling and open bar.

With files from The Canadian Press

Tourists who were rescued after a catamaran sank off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica are escorted from a Coast Guard station into a bus, in the port of Caldera, Costa Rica, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. (AP / Enrique Martinez)

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COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

Costa Rican Mothers Face Growing Barriers to Employment

Celebrating mother’s day in costa rica, august gardening in costa rica: working with the rains, la romería in costa rica: from 1635 to now, costa rica grapples with rising human trafficking cases, a costa rica day cruise turns into a nightmare as catamaran capsizes, leaving 3 dead.

Early Thursday morning, 99 vacationers boarded the Pura Vida Princess, a 100-foot catamaran, at Playa Herradura on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast for an all inclusive day trip to Tortuga Island. Roughly 30 minutes later, at about 8:40 a.m., the ship issued a distress call and quickly sank in high winds and rough sea off the coast of the beach town of Punta Leona. Three passengers died.

A total of 106 people, including the catamaran’s 10 crew members, were rescued. The victims were identified as Edna Oliver, a 68 year-old-U.S. woman, Ivor Stanley Hopkins, an 80-year-old British man, and Sharon Johnson, a 70-year-old Canadian woman, according to Vice President Ana Helena Chacón, show spoke during a late-afternoon press conference.

The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Judicial Investigation Police and the Prosecutor’s Office, but unusually strong winds across Costa Rica this week are pointed to as a likely cause. Wernen Stolz, chief meteorologist with the National Meteorological Institute, said that gusts reached more than 60 kph.

Survivors told local media the catamaran capsized due to powerful winds and that the ship rapidly sank.

“The wind tipped the boat and water began to come in. People moved to the other side to balance the weight, but it didn’t work and the boat sank in minutes,” U.S. tourist Arcelio Garcia said.

Stella Hopkins, an Argentine and the wife of the British victim, said she thought the boat would turn around because the sea was choppy, but the crew decided to continue the cruise.

“They didn’t give us life jackets until the boat was about to sink,” she said.

Hopkins lost sight of her husband until she was taken to a boat, where his lifeless body was lying.

The Pura Vida Princess was last inspected in November 2014 and was deemed seaworthy by the Maritime Division of the Public Works and Transport Ministry.

Online news site AmeliaRueda.com reported that the ship’s captain submitted to a blood alcohol test and other routine examinations but was not arrested.

The Pura Vida Princess Tortuga Island trip offered an open bar, paddle-boarding, snorkeling, nature trails, beach activities and three meals for $125, according to its website. The company has yet to make a statement about the accident.

President Luis Guillermo Solís expressed his condolences in an audio statement from China, where he is on an official visit since Jan. 6. Throughout the day Thursday, the president tweeted updates on the rescue operation, which lasted several hours and involved both the Costa Rican Coast Guard and private boats.

Mensaje del Presidente – Accidente Naufragio Catamarán: https://t.co/nalfEoRGxG #Catamaran — Luis Guillermo Solís (@luisguillermosr) January 9, 2015

Vice President Chacón expressed her own sorrow at the accident, which she called tragic.

“It’s a sad day for our country, known as a country that receives tourists,” she said.

AFP contributed to this report.

Correction Friday Jan. 9, 2015: The article originally misreported that the catamaran embarked from the Los Sueños Resort.

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One Canadian among dead in Costa Rica catamaran disaster

This article was published more than 9 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

A boat, which was on a day trip to the popular Tortuga (Turtle) Island, sank about 15 kilometres off Costa Rica’s central Pacific Coast

A Canadian is one of three people who died after a catamaran carrying dozens of foreign tourists on a pleasure cruise capsized off Costa Rica on Thursday, emergency officials said.