Florida Accident Attorney Blog

This past June, a South Carolina man vacationing with his fiancee was killed in a parasailing accident off Longboat Key on the west coast of Central Florida (see link to original story below). Now the media is reporting that a medical examiner's investigation has revealed that the cause of death for the Fla. parasail accident victim was "drowning" and the manner of death was "accidental."

According to previous media reports, the 31-year-old S.C. tourist was aloft on a parasail ride operated by Fun N Sun Parasail of Bradenton Beach, Florida. News reports stated that when the man was about 800 feet in the air, some sort of malfunction occurred, and he fell into the water. The man later died. Both the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Coast Guard conducted investigation into the circumstances surrounding this fatal parasail accident.

Now Miami, Florida and other media are reporting that an investigation into this Fla. parasailing accident has revealed more details about what occurred. Apparently the boat had malfunctioned and slowed, causing the victim's parasail line to slacken and drop him into the water. Initial reports stated that the victim, who was wearing a life vest, waved and was clearly alive when he landed in the water. However he later became unresponsive. Now a news report states that…

"According to Fun N Sun, the U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife, the out-drive on the boat failed, causing the propeller to stop turning and the boat to abruptly slow."

Reports state that the parasailing equipment itself appeared to be in working order, and the victim did not appear to have been entangled in the equipment. The medical examiner investigation also ruled out physical injury, bad weather, drugs, or marine animal as cause of death. The ME did report in a statement that the victim had a mildly enlarged heart, which could cause irregular heartbeat and lead to unconsciousness. He indicated that stress could precipitate cardiac arrhythmia.

As an experienced Miami, Florida parasailing accident lawyer knows all too well -- these tragic parasail accidents continue to occur off Fla. beaches. When someone embarks on a parasail ride, they expect to have some fun in the Florida sun -- to get a bird's-eye view of the beach, ocean, and the scenery below. Sadly, this is not always the case, as parasailing accidents due to a variety of factors can and do happen in the Sunshine State. See link below to parasail industry safety advocates calling for greater regulations in the parasailing industry in Florida and throughout the U.S.

Related Florida Accident Attorney Article:

Florida Parasailing Accident Claims Life of South Carolina Tourist -- The Second Fla. Parasail Death in Less Than a Year

Sources:

SC man drowned in Fla. parasailing accident
Associated Press in The Miami Herald Aug. 28, 2011

Parasailer drowned
The Islander Aug. 2011

Related Web Resource:

Parasail Safety Council

Last fall, Alejandra White, 27, of Georgia, who was vacationing in Clearwater Beach, Florida with her boyfriend, was tragically killed during a tandem parasail ride. The parasail accident reportedly occurred when when the tow line tethering the couple to the boat broke and White's parachute drifted toward the beach, dragging her along until she finally crashed into a volleyball net post. White's fiance survived the parasailing accident after he crashed into the ocean. (See links to related Florida Accident Injury Attorney articles on the Clearwater Beach, Fla. parasail accident death, below.)

Now a Florida parasail accident has claimed the life of another visitor to the Sunshine State -- this time, a young man who came to enjoy the sun and the beaches, and sadly, was killed when something went wrong and he fell into the ocean below.

According to media reports, the parasail accident occurred on Monday, June 27, 2011 in Central Florida. South Carolina man David Sieradzki, age 31, was reportedly about 800 feet in the air when he fell into the ocean. The Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are investigating the details surrounding this fatal parasailing accident. The victim and his wife were reportedly visiting Longboat Key, Florida, which straddles Manatee County and Sarasota County, Fla. The parasail operators were reported as Fun N Sun Parasail on Bradenton Beach, Florida.

A Fort Myers, Florida parasailing accident injury lawyer represents clients who've been injured or lost loved ones in Fla. parasail accidents. Experienced South Florida parasail accident attorneys follow the parasailing industry closely. For years, safety advocates in Florida and elsewhere have raised their voices, demanding that the US parasailing industry be held to more rigorous regulations to make the rides safer and prevent consumers from being injured or killed in parasailing accidents.

Alejandra White's parasailing accident death in Clearwater Beach, Fla. last fall increased the outcry for safety regulations for the parasailing industry. State Rep. Jim Frishe (R-Bellair Bluffs, Fla.) proposed the Alejandra White Act including HB 451 and a companion bill, SB 392. To date, those parasail safety regulations have not passed. Rep. Frishe told a Tampa, Fla. news source that he will try again in 2012 to pass safety regulations for the parasail industry.

Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney articles:

Florida Parasailing Bill Aims to Prevent Deadly Parasail Accidents Jan. 15, 2011

Victim of Clearwater Florida Parasail Accident Dies from Her Injuries Sept. 13, 2010

Sources:

Tourist dies while parasailing off Longboat Key
WTSP.com 10 News June 30, 2011

Greenville man killed in FL parasailing accident
Fox News Carolina June 29, 2011

Parasailing accident invokes de-regulation debate
WTSP.com 10 News June 28, 2011

Related Web Resource:

Parasail Safety Council: A nonprofit organization that follows the parasail industry and safety legislation

Continue reading "Florida Parasailing Accident Claims Life of South Carolina Tourist -- The Second Fla. Parasail Death in Less Than a Year" »

A new bill proposed in Florida and named for the victim of a deadly parasailing accident hopes to establish guidelines for an industry that critics say lacks safety regulations.

A Florida newspaper reports that the proposed bill is called the Alejandra White Act (Senate Bill 392) -- named for a young tourist who died last year when her parasail malfunctioned and dragged her toward shore, crashing her into objects on the beach below. She died from her injuries. The fatal parasail accident occurred in Clearwater Beach in Sept. 2010 as the Georgia couple, who were vacationing in Florida, decided to take a parasail ride. The victim's fiance, who was with her on the tandem parasail when their tow line reportedly broke, was able to free himself in the water. He survived the Fla. parasail accident and filed a lawsuit.

If passed, Senate Bill 392 would require Florida parasailing operators to...

• Equip their parasail harness apparatus with safety devices allowing parasailers to quickly release themselves in the event of an emergency


• Suspend parasail operations during high winds


• Obtain a license issued by the US Coast Guard that allows for carrying passengers for hire


• Carry at least $1 million per person in injury and death insurance

Experienced Fort Lauderdale parasail accident attorneys follow developments in Florida laws and regulations designed to keep consumers safe. For years, parasail safety advocates have demanded that the state of Florida enact legislation that requires parasailing operators to make their parasail rides safer--as self-regulation hasn't worked.

The founder of the Parasail Safety Council helped draft the current proposed bill. If the bill passes into law, Florida parasailing ride operators who do not follow the requirements will be subject to second-degree misdemeanor charges. The newspaper quotes a figure of 15 people who have died in Florida in the last 20 years, as a result of parasailing accidents.

Proposed parasailing bill would require insurance coverage, quick-release safety devices
St. Petersburg Times Jan. 15, 2011

Details of Parasail Regulations Bill SB392
Parasail Safety Council Jan. 14, 2011

Related Florida Parasail Accident Lawyer article:

Florida Parasailing Accident Survivor Speaks Out on Death of Fiancee

A young man who survived a Florida parasail accident that claimed the life of his fiancee recounts what happened that day to a Florida news source.

Shaun Ladd and Alejandra White had gone to Clearwater Beach, Florida, for a day that would include a parasailing trip. The couple approached operators Skyscreamer Parasail. Ladd and White were lifted high into the sky in a tandem parasail rig, which allowed them to fly side by side. Ladd stated that minutes into the parasail ride, the winds picked up and he heard a loud pop -- the sound of the tow rope snapping.

Ladd told the St. Petersburg Times that after the tow line broke, the couple's parachute carried them aloft away from the speedboat, before they drifted back toward the ocean. Ladd landed in the water and broke free of his harness while the parachute carried White toward the beach. White was dragged along the beach, striking beach umbrellas, chairs, and a volleyball net post. White died several days later from injuries including severe brain injury.

An experienced Fort Myers, Florida parasail accident attorney works with families who have lost loved ones or suffered injuries in parasailing accidents.

This latest parasailing fatality has brought the hazards of this form of recreation back into the public spotlight. Safety advocates are calling for greater regulation of parasailing industry practices to protect consumers. Ladd and White were visiting Florida from Georgia and had planned to be married. Though the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard continue to investigate this fatal parasailing accident, no charges have been filed and the parasail operator remains open for business.

Related Florida Injury Attorney Blog Entries:

Victim of Clearwater Florida Parasail Accident Dies from Her Injuries

Florida Parasail Accident Update: Investigators Say Tow Rope Broke in Clearwater Parasailing Accident; Victim Still Hospitalized

News Source:

Survivor recalls horror of Clearwater parasailing accident that killed his fiancee
TampaBay.com Oct. 14, 2010

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that a young Georgia woman involved in a Labor Day weekend parasailing accident in Florida has died from her injuries.

Last week, the Florida media reported on a parasailing accident involving a couple from Georgia, which occurred in Clearwater Beach, Florida. According to news reports, Georgia couple Shaun Ladd and his fiancee, Alejandra White, age 27, took a tandem parasailing flight on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.

The accident reportedly occurred when the tow cable connecting the couple to the operator's speedboat snapped, sending Ladd into the water while White and her parachute drifted toward shore. White reportedly hit several beach umbrellas before striking a wooden volleyball net post.

White, who was taken to a medical center in St. Petersburg, Florida, has since died of her parasail accident injuries. The operator of the parasailing company, identified as Sky Screamer Parasail of Clearwater, Florida, is under investigation.

Florida parasail injury and wrongful death lawyers who have followed the parasailing industry are aware of the lack of regulations governing the safe operation of parasailing tour companies. With parasailing accidents in the news, safety advocates are calling for greater regulation of the parasailing industry in Florida and around the country.

Woman dies of injuries from parasailing accident on Clearwater Beach
TampaBay.com Sept. 13, 2010

Related Web Resource

Regulations fly by Florida's parasail industry
TBO.com Sept. 8, 2010

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have released additional information regarding a Florida parasailing accident that occurred last weekend in Clearwater -- leaving a Georgia woman hospitalized with critical injuries.

Twenty-seven year old Alejandra White and her fiance, thirty-one year old Shaun Ladd, both of Georgia, were parasailing in a tandem parasail harness over Labor Day weekend in Clearwater, Florida. According to the latest news reports, the accident appears to have occurred when the tow rope unravelled -- disconnecting the parasailers from the operator's speedboat as they were over the ocean. The weather had reportedly turned windy and unfavorable that afternoon.

Ladd, who was reportedly able to free himself from his harness , fell into the water. However White was dragged along beach umbrellas and hit a wooden volleyball net pole, suffering serious injuries. Media reports show photos of the Florida parasail accident unfolding.

Experienced Miami parasailing accident lawyers work with people who have suffered injury and death of loved ones in Florida parasail accidents. Though parasailing in Florida is a popular pastime -- the industry remains largely unregulated. This is a fact that consumers aren't by and large aware of when they get strapped into a parasailing harness and pulled several stories aloft by a speedboat.

Parasail accidents causing serious injury can and do happen, as is the case in this Clearwater Florida incident. An estimated 15 Florida parasail deaths have occurred in recent years, according to news reports. Parasailing safety advocates say the industry's "self-regulation" is no longer adequate.

Parasail accident victim still in critical condition, hospital says
St. Petersburg Times Sept. 8, 2010

Parasail businesses need to be regulated
St. Petersburg Times Sept. 9, 2010

Investigators discover unravelled rope behind parasailing accident which left woman impaled on umbrella
MailOnline Sept. 8, 2010

Related Web Resource

Parasail Safety Council

A beach goer remains in critical condition after a parasailing accident occurred in Clearwater Beach, Florida this past holiday weekend.

According to news reports, this Florida boating and parasail accident occurred when the tow line to the speedboat pulling two parasailers snapped -- sending one parasailer into the water while another was dragged along the beach, hitting beach umbrellas and a volleyball net pole. News reports state that the parasail accident victims were from Georgia: Alejandra White, age 27, and her fiancé, Shaun Ladd. White was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in Florida with serious injuries and was reported in critical condition; Ladd's injuries were reportedly less severe.

While news reports describe this Florida parasailing accident as a "freak accident," experienced Florida parasailing accident injury attorneys are well aware of the dangers of this form of recreation. Most consumers are unaware that the U.S. parasailing injury does not have strict safety regulations, for example, related to maintenance of parasail harnesses, parachutes, tow lines and other equipment.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials along with the Coast Guard continue to investigate the cause of this serious parasailing accident. No further details were available. Clearwater Beach is in Pinellas County in west central Florida, due west of Tampa, Florida.

See our Florida parasail accident lawyer blog entries for more reports on parasailing accidents in Florida and elsewhere in the U.S. and oversees. Our firm has worked with families who have suffered injury and death due to parasailing accidents. We have followed the parasailing industry for years and know what can go horribly wrong when parasail apparatus and equipment malfunctions and/or boat operator error occurs.

Woman critical after Clearwater Beach parasailing accident
MyFoxTampaBay.com Sept. 6, 2010

A British man, age 50, was killed late last month in a parasailing accident at a beach resort in Southern Turkey.

According to The Sun newspaper, the man was parasailing in tandem with his daughter at the Turkish vacation spot of Side when his harness broke. The man fell 150 feet to his death on the beach, below. His daughter, 25, was parasailing next to her father and talking with him when his harness failed. The young woman told news reporters that prior to the accident, she had concerns about the safety of her own parasailing harness, as "one of the clips on mine didn't look like it was clipped up properly."

Though this parasailing death occurred overseas, tragic accidents like it have happened in Florida and elsewhere in the U.S. What most consumers don't know is that despite parasailing accidents and deaths, the parasailing industry is largely unregulated.

An experienced Fort Myers parasailing accident lawyer knows the potential risks involved when Florida vacationers engage in what may seem like a breezy, thrilling adventure. Faulty or poorly maintained harnesses, ropes, and other equipment can lead to parasailing tragedies like the one described here. Parasail rides are offered by operators in a number of Florida beach communities including Clearwater, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami.

The Daily Mail reported that another tourist at the Turkish resort who had parasailed with the same tour company reported similar problems prior to the fatal accident that killed the 50-year-old British man. That parasailer, in his early 20s, stated that his harness had frayed while in flight -- forcing him to hold it together to prevent himself from falling. The British press and safety advocates are calling for tighter parasailing regulations at overseas vacation resorts.

Parasailing Dad Falls to His Death
The Sun July 29, 2010

Tourist 'came close to death' on same parasail tour which killed British tourist Glenn Hudson
Mail Online Aug. 1, 2010

Related Web Resource

How To Avoid a Parasailing Accident

Whether embarked on from a Florida beach, off the dock at a Caribbean resort, or at a Midwest lake recreation area -- parasailing can be a dangerous endeavor.

A recent case in the news illustrates what can happen when something suddenly goes wrong and a parasailing accident occurs.

A Minnesota teen was injured this past weekend as she was attempting to parasail. News reports state that a 17-year-old girl was injured in a lakeside parasailing accident when she struck a pontoon boat that was docked nearby. The accident occurred on Lower Cullen Lake in Crow Wing County, MN. The teen was reportedly brought to an area medical facility with non life-threatening injuries. No further details of this parasailing incident were available.

Parasailing is a popular pastime in Florida beach communities such as Fort Lauderdale and Miami. However parasailing safety in Florida and elsewhere is questionable, given the government does not yet regulate the parasailing industry.

As experienced Fort Lauderdale, Florida parasailing accident lawyers know too well -- this form of beachside recreation that appears to be fun and carefree can be hazardous -- even leading to serious injuries and death.

Many factors are at play when a young person, tourist, or other beachgoer gets strapped into a parasail harness and is lifted aloft and towed out over the water by a motor boat. That person's lifeline is, literally, a rope attached to the boat. If any of the equipment fails (e.g., if the rope goes slack or breaks), if the boat operator makes an error, or if wind or other weather conditions change for the worse -- the potential for catastrophic injury or death from a parasail accident increases.

See our previous blog entry on a Miami Parasailing Accident that left two people injured.

Teen Hurt in Parasailing Accident
Brainerd Dispatch July 26, 2010

Parasailing Accident Injures Girl
WNMT AM 650 Radio July 26, 2010

Related Web Resource

Wikipedia: History of Parasailing

A 19-year-old youth from Naples, Florida, was killed in a waterskiing accident while practicing a stunt maneuver in Estero last week.

The Lee County Sheriff's office recently released details of the fatal Florida boating accident, which occurred last Thursday at water ski lake at Miromar Outlet Mall in Estero. According to a Naples, Florida news source, Danny Michalik, 19, was waterskiing behind a boat driven by personnel from the Southern Extreme Waterski Show Team. The news report states that Michalik was attempting to water ski around a second boat when he crashed into it, suffering fatal injuries. The second boat was towing another water skier from Fort Myers, Florida.

A Fort Myers boat accident lawyer may be consulted by families in cases where negligence or recklessness may have contributed to water recreation injury or death.

The state of Florida has licensing and safety regulations in place related to the operation of boats, waterskiing, and personal watercraft (see link to Florida Boating Regulations page under Web Resources, below). Lee County, Florida injury attorneys may work with families whose loved ones have been hurt or drowned while swimming in public and private swimming pools, waterskiing, boating, operating personal watercraft, or in parasailing accidents.

Lee Sheriff's Office releases details in water skiing accident that killed Naples man
NaplesNews.com June 21, 2010

Related Web Resources

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission : Boating Regulations

Southern Extreme Waterski Show Team

A parasailing accident in Miami, Florida, has sent two people to the hospital with injuries, according to news reports. Local 10 News in Miami reported that two people were hurt parasailing at Port of Miami, when a cord came loose and they were dragged in the water, striking a sea wall. Details of the accident continue to emerge, with other news reports out of Miami stating the parachute may have malfunctioned.

Parasailing involves a person harnessed into a parachute and attached to a boat by a rope or cord; the boat gains speed and pulls them aloft, pulling the parasailer through the air, and over the water. Parasailing is a popular form of recreation in Florida but it is not without its risks, particularly if equipment is not properly maintained and safety measures are not in place.

As experienced Miami, Florida parasailing accident lawyers, injury attorneys Debi and Jason Chalik understand that water sports and recreation such as parasailing can be dangerous and even deadly. We have successfully fought for compensation on behalf of a family in a recent fatal parasailing accident case that killed a young girl and caused head injury to her sister, when the rope on their parasailing boat broke free, hurtling them onto a hotel roof. (See background on this fatal Florida parasailing accident case.)

The names of the victims of this Miami, Florida parasailing accident have not been released, though news reports indicate they may be tourists from Chicago, and possibly a father and daughter. The victims were brought by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel to Jackson Memorial Hospital. The accident is being investigated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Miami, Florida parasailing accident attorney Jason Chalik has followed the evolution of the parasailing industry and is aware of the safety procedures, equipment maintainance, and operational factors that should be in place to keep people who enjoy this form of water and boating recreation safe. Parasailing accidents and boat accidents can occur when proper safety measures are not taken by operators to keep consumers who pay for their services safe.

Father, daughter injured in parasailing accident
Florida AP, Miami Herald, June 8, 2010

2 Injured In Parasailing Accident
JustNews.com June 7, 2010

News-Press.com of Fort Myers reports that a new Florida state boating safety law that went into effect in January is designed to better prepare young people to avoid boating accidents.

The new law states that people born on or after January 1, 1988, must pass an approved Florida boater safety course to operate any boat or personal watercraft vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater. It replaces the previous law, which required Florida boating safety education for anyone younger than age 21 operating a boat or water vessel of the same horsepower.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issues boater safety education ID cards to people who pass their safety requirements. An estimated 55,000 boats are registered in Lee County, Florida, and one million boats are registered in the entire state of Florida. As Fort Myers boat and watercraft accident lawyers know too well -- inadequately trained, impaired, and reckless boat operators can cause serious boat accidents on Florida waters, leading to drowning, maiming, disability, and death.

Parasailing accidents represent another area of concern related to boating safety and recreation off Florida's beaches (parasailing involves a person being harnessed in to a parachute, which becomes airborne as it is pulled behind a speed boat on Florida ocean waters or lakes), as do swimming pool accidents that can occur at Florida hotels, resorts, in municipal and privately owned pools. Florida state safety laws, such as the new boating education requirement, are put in place in hopes of raising awareness around safe operation of boats, water skis, and other personal watercraft.

Though Florida's waters and beaches attract tourists and residents who just want to relax and have fun -- all water sports and activities come with risks. Proper safety training, state laws, and industry regulations all help keep people safe as they enjoy the natural resources Florida has to offer.

New Florida law emphasizes safe boating
News-Press.com April 20, 2010

Related Web Resources

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Boating Safety

National Association of State Boating Law Administrators

Boat U.S. Foundation