3 Survive Rapids Attempt With Wal-Mart Raft

DenverChannel.com ^ | 5/27/2006 | Staff

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

VAIL, Colo. -- Two 12-packs and a raft bought at Wal-Mart by three 19 and 20-year friends were no match for Class III rapids on the upper Colorado River between Radium and Rancho Del Rio.

One man, Thomas Williams, nearly drowned when the raft overturned last Sunday. He was rescued by a nearby rafting guide.

"I was under for so long I just blacked out," Williams told the Vail Daily. "I didn't realize I was being dragged along by the river."

Class III rapids, on a scale of 1 to 6, include a large continuous set of waves with small drops, ledges or waterfalls. Scouting is suggested for all but the most experienced rafter.

Williams described the trio's attempt without proper equipment or lifejackets as simple "stupidity."

His two friends managed to swim to shore, but not before they suffered scrapes from the knees down and were stripped of most of their clothes.

Williams suffered a hairline fracture on his ankle.

The adventure is nothing new to Williams, who said he also seeks thrills skateboarding, snowboarding and bungee jumping. "If I didn't do that stuff I'd be a lazy couch potato," he said.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

A case of beer, a Wal-Mart raft, and mountain river rapids. What could go wrong?

[dakine]

I'm glad I was born old....

[WV Mountain Mama]

Good thing they drank the beer first, it would have been a total bummer had they lost it when the raft flipped...

[don-o]

Speaking of stupid.

[Salamander]

"Hold muh beer" ping

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

What does wally world have to do with this? The raft was probably a Coleman brand!

[Mr Ramsbotham]

VAIL, Colo. -- Two 12-packs and a raft bought at Wal-Mart ....

A bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape and an inflatable boat from Target would no doubt have led to more auspicious results.

[proudofthesouth]

A bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape and an inflatable boat from Target would no doubt have led to more auspicious results.

LOL! Good one!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

LOL!! Sean Penn already tried it, luckily he was in calmer waters:

Title this picture: When liberals and reality collide.

[Popman]

Williams described the trio's attempt...or lifejackets as simple "stupidity."

What would possess people to get into a Wal-Mart raft without life jackets careening down class III rapids is beyond "stupidity"

[Grampa Dave]

"A bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape and an inflatable boat from Target would no doubt have led to more auspicious results.

Pictured below is the 4 drunk dummies raft available at Target:

[Drew68]

Williams described the trio's attempt without proper equipment or lifejackets as simple "stupidity."

But they brought beer! What more do you need?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Fueled by a case of beer, it's amazing what people will do.

[6SJ7]

What does wally world have to do with this? The raft was probably a Coleman brand!

Heh! Perhaps things would have worked out with a nice L.L. Bean Limited Edition raft and two six-packs of Avian Spring water!

[Popman]

Fueled by a case of beer, it's amazing what people will do.

One case of beer / three guys???

You know, I have in my past drank my share of beer, way more than what these guys consumed and never have done anything remotely close to that stupid.

More that this guy!!!

[Drew68]

I'd have liked to seen the looks on their faces at that moment when they realized they were in waaaay over their heads!

Anyways, glad they made it out OK. I have a soft spot for Colorado boys drinking beer and doing stupid acts out in nature. I was one of those boys myself once. We used to hang our beer over the side of the raft with a bungee cord to keep it cool. Those plastic 6-pack rings work great for that.

[Joe 6-pack]

For my next trick, I'll be doing Niagara Falls in one of these....

[ßuddaßudd]

I had a similar experience on the Potomac may years ago in a canoe and almost drowned. The rapids always look smaller from shore.

[CindyDawg]

Sounds like the raft worked. They just didn't stay in it:')

[Youngman442002]

EVOLUTION