Woman Dies in South Padre Parasailing Accident

A woman was fatally injured Saturday during a parasailing accident in South Padre Island, Texas.

About the Parasailing Accident

According to KGBT Channel 4 News, the woman, believed to have been in her 40s, fell to her death in the waters of South Padre Island, Texas while parasailing Saturday afternoon.

The cause of the fall is still unknown. The U.S. Coast Guard along with other agencies are investigating the incident.

Reports say that after the woman fell into the water, CPR was performed on her and she was taken directly to the hospital. She was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Parasailing Statistics

The following information was provided by the Parasail Safety Council:

• Parasailing remains a popular recreational activity with 238 commercial parasail concessions registered in the U.S. alone.
• It is estimated that 3.8 million participate in parasailing every year.
• Nearly 95% of all recorded parasailing-related fatalities are the result of the parasailor being unable to escape from the harness passenger support system following an unplanned water-landing.
• Currently, there are no federal regulations governing parasailing operations, nor are there federal inspections to ensure equipment safety.