after his many tries he finally managed to hold onto something and felt how it began pulling him toward the side of the river , when he was finally able to open his eyes he saw how roberto was holding the other side of the pole he was holding onto and was spending every bit of strength he had left in his body to save him , but the river was too strong and roberto was visibly weak , he almost fell into the river a few times , but managed to recover his equilibrium again every time .