A 27-year-old Gwinnett County woman critically injured while parasailing in Florida has died.
Alejandra White, of Lawrenceville, died shortly before noon Saturday, Gary Morse, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told the AJC. White had been in critical condition since Sept. 5.
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, 31, was able to remove his safety harness, but fell about 25 feet into the water while trying to help White, police said. He was not seriously injured. Strong winds carried White to the beach, where she struck umbrellas and chairs before slamming into a wooden volleyball pole.
Investigators believe the weather may have caused the rope to break, but no charges have been filed, Morse said. The U.S. Coast Guard is also involved in the investigation, which is expected to take several weeks to complete, Morse said.
“We take our time because there is a family issue here," Morse said. "The family has a right to the correct answers."
White had worked for several years as a chiropractic assistant in Duluth, where co-workers were shocked and saddened by news of her death.
"She was a wonderful person," David Ehrman, a chiropractor, told the AJC late Sunday.
The parasail operator was Sky Scream Parasail of Clearwater, police said.
Many in Florida have called for stricter regulation of the parasailing industry, Morse said. The latest incident is similar to one in 2001 that claimed the lives of a mother and daughter in Fort Myers, he said.
“Most people who aren't around the water are not aware of how violent thunderstorms can get," Morse said.
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
