Four Americans in stag party killed while on rafting trip in Costa Rica

Groom's brother is among the victims

Four Americans have been killed in a rafting accident while on a stag party in Costa Rica.

Three rafts flipped over on the Naranjo River near the city of Liverpool de Quepos, killing the four men from Miami, Florida, and their tour guide, according to the Red Cross.

In total there were 14 tourists on board of the rafts, in addition to five tour guides.

"What was meant to be a weekend to remember for 14 friends turned into a living nightmare,” survivors wrote on a crowdfunding page set up for the victims’ families.

The friends have been identified as Ernesto Sierra, Jorge Caso, Sergio Lorenzo and Andres Dennis, all between the ages of 25 and 35.

Kevin Thompson Reid was their local tour guide and colleagues indicated he was vastly experienced.

The friends had arrived in Costa Rica on 18 October to celebrate the pending nuptials of Luis Beltran, whose brother was one of the victims, Mr Lorenzo.

Wind and rain had initially delayed the trip and the survivors wrote: "Within five minutes of being out on the river, all three rafts capsized, and everyone ended up in the water”.

"Everyone struggled to get back on the rafts, with some efforts being successful, but ultimately the rafts continued to capsize due to the immense current. Within minutes, all of us were careening down the river with life jackets and helmets just trying to stabilise and find something to hold on to,” the survivors wrote.

The group has raised approximately $8,000 for the victims’ families, with a goal of $50,000.

Luis Guzman, National Deputy spokesman for Costa Rica’s Red Cross, told NBC News they were able to rescue the survivors who were all relatively unharmed but the five victims were found later further down the river.

Mr Guzman said the tourists were not in a national park area, but white water rafting in “an area full of nature.”

The river was swollen with rain and there was even a flood warning issued by the National Emergency Commission.

US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert tweeted a statement: “We are saddened by news of rafting accident in #CostaRica. We extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones, and extend our gratitude to Government of Costa Rica for their support in this tragedy.”