Parasailing Death

Why would you ask that question? Did the report of the tragedy seem fake?

Not particularly, but when I read a news item in only one source of information I like to be sure it is corroborated in others. Were you unable to confirm or just not feeling particularly helpful? 😉

It was a press release from the Governor's office.

horrible situation

Sorry barefoot but I found your post to be negative. As speeedy said, it was a horrible situation. It was a press release that was shared by a reputable and long standing web site owner. I heard of the incident and did not see anything in the newspaper or on line about it either. It happened. Don't know why it has not been reported on more effectively.

It is in the paper today.

Pia

Saw it. Unfortunate.

Does anyone know which parasailing company was involved?

That's fair, thanks Ronnie. I was rushing when I posted, bad idea! Plus just didn't want to mentally deal with news of tragedy, but was hoping against hope maybe it was a false rumor. I am in deep sympathy for the family involved, and also concerned about another hit to the local economy, 8% cut and all making it tough going at my house right now.

Very unfortunate accident. My sympathies goes out to the family.

If you 'Like', "News2" on Facebook, it keeps you updated on the local news (sometimes before it hits the papers & the TV itself). Not rumors.

While writing this, the young woman hit by the car by Gottleib's gas station on Veterans Drive, is NOT dead. She is alive. The police made a "big mistake". The police officer received the wrong information about her condition. According to News2.

This is a nightmare. I can't even imagine how terrifying for those two women. Such an awful way to loose ones mother.

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/woman-killed-in-parasail-fall-1.1233799#axzz1e0Z6Griz

An interesting thread is running on one of the travel boards. The tragedy just occurred yesterday and already the "tourism squad" has commenced an another C.Y.O.A. and finger pointing campaign.

Lots of 'spin' on the Internet and not many facts.

My heart and prayers are with that family. God bless.

There is only one parasailing company on island that I am aware of. It's done for. The coast guard came out and drug tested everyone running the boats or offering assistance at the scene...I doubt any of the Parasail crew are clean and that will likely lead to criminally negligent homicide with a hell of a civil suit to follow. Not good for anyone involved.

Doubting that any of the professional crew that work on the parasail boats can pass the drug test is an un-substantiated and malicious statement and very likely a 100% false assumption. Unless you have been working for that company and have 1st hand knowledge it seems very unfair to start a rumor like that.

Amen, Exit!

VentoGT, if i were you, I'd edit my post to just three little dots.

Amazing what folks write as gospel truth. I think there are three companies that offered parasail. I could be mistaken. Have not really looked to see if any are operating.

Sorry--it was supposition on my part based on observations in public. True that it is mere supposition--mea culpa

I think that a review will be done and from what I have heard the captian was a great person. But if it is like the day say types the captain is responsible for everything. So he as well as the company will be found not complyning to some rule. Think about it. If they were complying to all the rules then this should have not happened. The rule people will never say that the rules were not good enough.

My heart goes out to all those involved. But this is not a very safe sport. There are many deaths around the world.

billd

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They may well have complied with all the rules -- accidents do fit within the rule structure and the USCG is not prone to assign negligence if the investigation proves otherwise - I think it is a safe sport - there are risks in every action - there are many automobile deaths around the world as well, should all driving be considered unsafe?

There is only one parasailing company on island that I am aware of. It's done for. The coast guard came out and drug tested everyone running the boats or offering assistance at the scene...I doubt any of the Parasail crew are clean and that will likely lead to criminally negligent homicide with a hell of a civil suit to follow. Not good for anyone involved.

Well looks like your (so-called "malicious" )assumptions were correct after all:
http://www.professionalmariner.com/Web-Bulletin-2012/Captain-indicted-after-fatal-parasailing-accident-in-US-Virgin-Islands/

"The Coast Guard takes safety at sea very seriously, and will ensure that any mariner who causes another’s death through misconduct, negligence, and inattention to his duties is held accountable in a court of law.” ...even if it creates a PR nightmare for the accused's pals......

According to the article cited, strong winds and faulty equipment were the cause of this accident. They do not mention drugs. Do you have more/different information?

According to the article cited, strong winds and faulty equipment were the cause of this accident. They do not mention drugs. Do you have more/different information?

I can't fathom why this old thread has been resurrected. The news release quoted is from November last year. Obviously this is an ongoing issue which hasn't yet been adjudicated.

USCG doesn't indite based on "winds and faulty equipment". The investigation yielded many points of negligence (dereliction of duty) on the part of the owner and crew. While a select group of local sailors feel that placing tourist lives at risk to make buck is simply "business as usual", the practice doesn't sit well with federal authorities.

http://www.professionalmariner.com/February-2013/Grand-jury-indicts-boat-captain-in-Virgin-Islands-parasailing-death/

"Melissa Bert, chief of the Coast Guard’s maritime and international law division, said federal prosecutors have the ability to use the Seaman’s Manslaughter Statute to discourage the riskiest behavior. “We can’t allow people to have these really shady operations that kill people,” Bert said at the New York conference......" "

US Dept. of Justice papers (A .PDF)

Another newspaper article

much more detailed article

the legal claim Parasailing Death & Paraplegia Result in $30,000,000 Claim