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Parasailing Death

(@BarefootDays)
Posts: 53
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Is this true?

http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21835&view=next

 
Posted : November 16, 2011 10:10 pm
(@ronnie)
Posts: 2259
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Why would you ask that question? Did the report of the tragedy seem fake?

 
Posted : November 17, 2011 3:43 am
(@BarefootDays)
Posts: 53
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Topic starter
 

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? 😉

 
Posted : November 17, 2011 10:11 am
(@Linda_J)
Posts: 3919
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It was a press release from the Governor's office.

 
Posted : November 17, 2011 12:04 pm
(@speee1dy)
Posts: 8871
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horrible situation

 
Posted : November 17, 2011 12:04 pm
(@ronnie)
Posts: 2259
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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.

 
Posted : November 17, 2011 3:05 pm
 piaa
(@piaa)
Posts: 582
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It is in the paper today.

Pia

 
Posted : November 17, 2011 4:39 pm
(@ronnie)
Posts: 2259
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Saw it. Unfortunate.

 
Posted : November 17, 2011 6:33 pm
(@The_Pirates)
Posts: 1
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Does anyone know which parasailing company was involved?

 
Posted : November 17, 2011 7:02 pm
(@BarefootDays)
Posts: 53
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Topic starter
 

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.

 
Posted : November 17, 2011 9:39 pm
(@BeachcomberStt)
Posts: 1018
Noble Member
 

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.

 
Posted : November 17, 2011 11:14 pm
(@blu4u)
Posts: 842
Prominent Member
 

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.

 
Posted : November 18, 2011 12:06 am
(@VentoGT)
Posts: 74
Trusted Member
 

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.

 
Posted : November 21, 2011 3:12 pm
Exit Zero
(@exit-zero)
Posts: 2460
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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.

 
Posted : November 21, 2011 8:28 pm
 lc98
(@lc98)
Posts: 1250
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Amen, Exit!

 
Posted : November 22, 2011 12:46 am
(@onthespot)
Posts: 380
Reputable Member
 

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

 
Posted : November 22, 2011 1:20 am
(@ronnie)
Posts: 2259
Noble Member
 

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.

 
Posted : November 23, 2011 2:01 pm
(@VentoGT)
Posts: 74
Trusted Member
 

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

 
Posted : November 23, 2011 2:32 pm
(@billd)
Posts: 1085
Noble Member
 

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

.

 
Posted : November 23, 2011 5:40 pm
Exit Zero
(@exit-zero)
Posts: 2460
Famed Member
 

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?

 
Posted : November 23, 2011 6:08 pm
(@blu4u)
Posts: 842
Prominent Member
 

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......

 
Posted : May 13, 2013 8:36 pm
(@Linda_J)
Posts: 3919
Famed Member
 

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?

 
Posted : May 13, 2013 9:42 pm
(@the-oldtart)
Posts: 6523
Illustrious Member
 

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.

 
Posted : May 13, 2013 10:40 pm
(@blu4u)
Posts: 842
Prominent Member
 

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......" "

 
Posted : May 13, 2013 10:52 pm
(@noOne)
Posts: 1495
Noble Member
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