UPDATE: Gusty weather appears to be to blame in a deadly parasailing accident in the Florida Keys.
Officials say that the accident happened in high winds, which caused the parasail to slam into the Old Seven Mile Bridge, near Marathon, #Florida
— The Independent (@Independent) June 1, 2022
Authorities say an Illinois woman and two children were parasailing on Memorial Day when the wind picked up and the boat operator lost control.
So, according to reports, the captain cut the tether line and the three hit the water before crashing into a bridge near Marathon.
The accident is not the first in Florida. A series of parasailing mishaps off the coast of Broward County led to more laws regulating parasailing companies in 2014.
Since 1998 in Florida, parasailing accidents resulted in 38 injuries and six deaths. But since the state Legislature passed the first law regulating the business in 2014, there have been no deaths, no injuries and just two reported accidents until now.
Per the 2014 law, commercial parasailing is prohibited if the if the sustained wind speed in the area is more than 20 miles per hour or if gusts are 15 mph over the average wind speed.
The 33-year-old was killed, and her ten-year-old son and nine-year-old nephew were hurt.
ORIGINAL STORY: A woman is dead and a child is hurt after parasailing along the Seven Mile bridge in the Florida Keys.
Officials said the incident took place around 6 p.m. Monday.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the woman died in the accident and one child remains in the hospital. The child’s conditions are unknown at the time.
Authorities have yet to release any information on the victims or what they believe caused the tragic accident.