Vacationing Woman And Children Slam Into Bridge After Boat Captain Cuts Their Parasailing Cable

Marathon, Florida -- A woman lost her life after a boat captain intentionally cut the parasailing cable that was attached to her and two other children.

A good Samaritan rushed them to a nearby restaurant following the crash. The two children survived the Memorial Day incident with injuries.

Supraja Alaparthi, 33, from Schaumburg, Illinois, was vacationing in Florida when the incident took place Monday near Pigeon Key, which is a short distance from Marathon. The victim’s 10-year-old son, Sriakshith Alaparthi, and her 9-year-old nephew, Vishant Sadda, were parasailing with her at the time.

The mother and two children were tethered to a boat controlled by a captain, Daniel Couch, 49, according to the Miami Herald. A strong gust of wind “pegged” their parasail, which means the parasail chute was so full of air that the wind speed began controlling the parasail instead of the individual operating the vessel, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in their initial incident reported Tuesday night.

To avoid the risk of the boat being dragged, Couch likely cut the line hoping to catch the woman and children on their way down, a law enforcement source said. However, Alaparthi and the two children plunged into the water and were dragged across the water’s surface before slamming into the Old Seven Mile Bridge.

John Callion, 33, a Marathon tarpon guide who helped rescue the individuals, said a storm was approaching and “the wind started blowing like crazy” right before the crash.

He believes Alaparthi and the children traveled for a mile or two, with the wind propelling their parasail before they hit the bridge.

"The chute continued to drag the victims through and across the surface of the water" until the collision, the FWC incident report said.

Callion pulled the woman and children onto his boat with the help of others. The victim’s son was battered but conscious while the nephew was unconscious with the parasail’s lines wrapped around him.

“It was pretty much the worst thing you could imagine,” Callion added. “It was real bad.”

The crash victims were rushed to the restaurant, Sunset Grill, where law enforcement officials took over.

Cops said Alaparthi was pronounced dead at the scene. The boys were taken to the hospital to receive treatment.

The parasailing boat is operated by Lighthouse Parasail, a company based in Marathon and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Co-owner Jacquelin Winter told the outlet she could not comment on the incident.

Mark McCulloh, 66, chairman of the Florida-based Parasail Safety Council, said the captain should have used other ways to deflate the parasail.

“He never should have done that,” McCulloh told the outlet. “That’s the golden rule. Do not cut the line.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Coast Guard are investigating the incident, ABC News reported.

"Our condolences are with the family and loved ones of those affected by Monday's accident," Capt. Jason Ingram, Coast Guard Sector Key West commander, said in a statement. "This was a tragedy for a family seeking to enjoy their visit to the Florida Keys.”