Florida bill would honor Gwinnett County parasailer who died

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Florida lawmakers will consider more regulations for parasailing, a move prompted by the death of a Gwinnett County woman last fall.

If passed, the bill would require safer equipment and insurance policies for parasail operators, the St. Petersburg Times reported. The bill is being called the "Alejandra White Act" in honor of the 27-year-old Lawrenceville woman who died following a parasailing accident in September.

White and her fiance, Shaun Ladd, were visiting Clearwater Beach, Fla., over Labor Day weekend when the rope between the parachute and a boat snapped, police said. The couple was approximately 100 feet from the boat when the rope broke, police said.

Ladd was able to remove his harness and fell about 25 feet into the water as he tried to help White. He was not seriously injured.

Strong winds carried White to the beach, where she hit numerous umbrellas before being impaled by a beach volleyball pole. She died six days later from injuries sustained in the incident.

Florida lawmakers have previously been unsuccessful in passing regulations to make parasailing safer. But White's death has again made regulating the industry a priority for some, who believe deaths and serious injuries can be prevented.

The bill will be introduced when this year's legislative session begins March 8. If it passes, the Alejandra White Act would take effect July 1.