Officers from FWC- State of Florida Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission are still investigating a parasailing accident that occurred just before 12:45 p.m. Friday aboard a 31-foot Sunset Watersports parasailing boat in Northwest Channel, just off Key West.
Nicolas Hayward, 37, whose identification indicates he was from Costa Rica, and Azalea Silva, 29, whose identification states she was from San Antonio, Texas, reportedly fell after being hoisted into the air, according to a preliminary report from FWC investigators.
Hayward was pronounced dead at Lower Keys Medical Center. Silva was airlifted to Jackson Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, where she remained in critical condition as of Saturday afternoon, the report states.
When asked whether a cable or line had broken to cause the victims’ fall, FWC spokesman Officer Bobby Dube said he didn’t know.
“Severe weather is a contributing factor with this boating accident,” states the report, which lists Andrew Santeiro, 32, of Key West, as the operator of the 31-foot parasailing vessel.
The report also states that 10 additional occupants were aboard at the time of the accident.
