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.

[metesky]

19 and 20 yo? A case of beer should be just a warmup when you're that age.

A warmup for some real stupidity!

[SouthTexas]

Never did the raft thing, we always used "tubes" and since the "beertube" was tied to my ankle, I had dual protection.

We're getting a lot of thunder and lightning and even a little rain!

[SKI NOW]

"Well...it could've been worse."

Is that a pic of Algore defending the environment?

[CAWats]

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

Boy, I can attest to that! LOL!

[originalbuckeye]

Benign canoeing on a lake can be dangerous even if you aren't drinking! I was canoe-camping on Lake George, a lifetime ago, in the fall. After spending the night camping on one of the islands, we loaded up and headed for shore. The clouds that morning were ominous and the wind made 3 foot waves on the lake. Our stuff was tied in the canoe but we had no life jackets. I was mightily glad to reach the shore! A few years later a friend's son was killed on that lake. His canoe had overturned and, as he held onto the bow, a wave brought the canoe up and then down into his forehead. Broken neck. I have a real healthy respect for ALL bodies of water and would never go onto any one of them without a life jacket! You're right.....I am glad to have survived my youth and early adulthood.

[em2vn]

In a descent like that your corpse would be flying.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I don't doubt it, those Wal-Mart PVC rafts are probably only suitable for use by kids in a swimming pool or a small smooth-as-glass lake that is shallow enough for you to stand up in if you dump it. Or if you're planning on being within 50 yards of shore the whole time.

[Junior]

Literally a "hold ma beer" ping.

[mugs99]

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

Yeah, the raft worked just fine and class III rapids are no big deal. Kids around here tube class III and don't even get their munchies wet.
.

[mugs99]

We went through a bunch of nines. Great trip. Oh yes, I was 67 at the time.

ROFL!
My wife keeps telling me I'm too old to keep seeking thrills. Happy to see there's another old fart out there who won't give up!!!
.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Probably an attempt to set up Wally World as a Target of a lawsuit.

[Flyer]

The adventure is nothing new to Williams, who said he also seeks thrills skateboarding, snowboarding and bungee jumping.

I'll keep an eye out at Wal-Mart for the guy with 200 bungee cords in his cart.

[CindyDawg]

When we were young and poor my husband couldn't even afford a Walmart raft, so he made his own out of a piece of plywood and four inner tubes. All the guys with store bought ones put their toys aside, when he showed up and wanted to try it too. Someone ended up stealing the darn thing:')

[Uri’el-2012]

3 Survive Rapids Attempt With Wal-Mart Raft

The only thing new about this article is the "hit-piece" on Wal-Mart

[TXnMA]

It certainly looks more like body armor than like any flotation device I've seen.

Can you say, "sink like a rock"?

[El Gato]

The Coleman version available from Wally World.

[demlosers]

Hold muh beer. ;-)

[El Gato]

Is he wearing body armor???

Sure looks like a light version of it. The sort that might stop a .22, .25 or maybe even a .32 or .380. They'd be like butter to 9 mm, .357, .223, 7.62x39, .308 etc.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

That's right. If a guy with a few beers in him says, "Hey, watch this!!", break out the video camera because something is gonna happen!

[mugs99]

LOL...
Homemade is always the best!