The catamaran flipped after it began taking on water in heavy seas

This is the moment a tourist catamaran carrying more than 100 people capsized and sank off the coast of Costa Rica, causing the deaths of three elderly passengers.

The terrifying video, filmed by one of the passengers, shows the boat tipping as water rushes in on the upper deck, with panicking passengers holding on to tables as it lists.

The whole incident is captured, showing passengers getting stuck under the upper deck canopy at the catamaran sinks, and their wait for rescue with the bodies of the dead float next to them.

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Fear: Passengers hold on to tables at the catamaran carrying 98 passengers and 10 staff being to list in heavy wind off the coast of Costa Rica in January last year

Panic: Tourists in lifejackets, including a woman holding on to her children, can be seen fighting for their lives as the water rushes in

Lucky escape: The incident was captured on a GoPro camera by a passenger who survived the capsizing

The catamaran carrying 98 passengers and 10 crew members sank off Costa Rica's Pacific Coast in January last year.

Three elderly people died in the incident; Briton Ivor Stanley Hopkins, 80, American Edna Oliver, 68, and Canadian Sharon Johnson, 70.

Alexis Esneault, then 21, filmed the sinking on her GoPro as she was sat on the upper deck of the catamaran.

'At first I had no idea it was so serious. As long as we could have our Margaritas, I was fine,' Ms Esenault, now 23, told 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.

Incident:The passengers were tourists from all over the world, but a majority were U.S. citizens, who had paid 125 US dollars (£83) for a day trip to a nearby island

The catamaran carrying 98 passengers and 10 crew members sank off Costa Rica's Pacific Coast in January last year, but the footage has not been released until now

The whole incident is captured on camera showing passengers getting stuck under the upper deck canopy at the catamaran sinks

Ms Esenault was forced to take off her life jacket in order not to get stuck under the blue plastic canopy, and described hos she swam up to the surface as the boat sank around her.

She told the paper how she and dozens of other passengers were left in the water for over an hour before they were saved, with the bodies of the dead floating next to them.

'I could see the British man had drowned, but there was nothing we could do. Afterwards I couldn't sleep for weeks - all I could see when I shut my eyes was water.'

The National Meteorological Institute had issued a warning about strong winds buffeting the country at the time of the accident, 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 centers on shore.

The video shows Ms Esenault and dozens of other passengers in the water after the boat has sunk

Ms Esenault revealed they were left in the water for over an hour before they were saved, with the bodies of the dead floating next to them

Ms Esenault said the survivors had tried to keep each other calm in the sea as they waited for rescue

One told the BBC: 'We were floating in the ocean. Many people were crying, screaming, asking for help,' an unidentified woman told local television.

Todd Olson, a tourist from Kansas, told the station: 'The captain started to turn the wheel to the left. There were pretty heavy seas and we started to take water on, apparently on the right side.

'Within a minute it was flipped. Very fast, shocking.'

Some 2.4 million foreign tourists - most of them from the US - visited the country in 2013, according to Costa Rica's Tourism Board and it is deemed as one of the safest destinations for tourists in Latin America.

Tour operator Pura Vida Princess reported the 100ft catamaran left Marina Los Suenos. They were going on a day trip to the popular Tortuga (Turtle) Island.

According to the Pura Vida Princess website, the Tortuga Island day trip costs 125 US dollars (£83) and includes meals, a DJ, snorkelling and open bar.

Tragedy: Tourists who survived a shipwreck off the coast of Costa Rica, are received by relatives in Herradura beach, Puntarenas. Three people including an elderly American and Canadian woman died

Distraught: A tourist who was on the cruise when the boat began to sink cries as she holds a cup

Safe: Passengers from the downed boat gather as they reach the shore. The vessel was carrying more than 100 people at the time

Concerned: Tourists stand in groups at the Coast Guard station in Caldera, Puntarenas

Transport: A man wearing his swimming trunks is led to the bus taking passengers back to their accommodation