[Faline]

[kellyhound]

17-year-olds Sidney Good and Alexia Fairchild, from Roanoke, Indiana are both in critical condition at Bay Medical Center.

They were injured about 4:00 p.m. Monday when their parasail broke free from a tow boat.

A southbound wind caused the girls to hit the Commodores Condos, power lines and several cars on their way down.

The video shows the girls slamming into the condo building before disappearing behind it.

The weather was extremely windy, with a threat of storm conditions.

Austin Ward was on the boat with Good and Fairchild, waiting for his turn to go up in the harness.

"The wind got so bad it was pulling the parachute, and it started pulling the boat,” Ward said. “So they threw the anchor down. Once they threw the anchor down, the parachute stopped.

But they couldn't get the string to come back in. They tried to get the string to come back, tried flooring it and the rope snapped. Then they hit the condo.”

Those who saw the accident say it was a nightmare to witness as they watched the girls, unable to assist them.

"It was heading towards the condos and they were screaming and it was - it was horrific,” Inga Bobbin said.

“They hit the building and then they stopped screaming and it was awful. Everybody was trying to get to them and nobody could do anything.”

The Captain operating the boat towing the parasail was identified as Tyler Churchwell.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and coast guard are investigating.

[gatagato]

Video transcript:

• Oh shit!
• Oh shit!
• Oh shit!
• Oh shit!
• Oh my God!

[DiamondSmiles]

Originally Posted by gatagato ↗

Video transcript:

He pretty much said it all

They hit the hotel and the railing outside the rooms like ragdolls! You could see the dent in the one video.

Thanks for the photos, gata

[gatagato]

Contribution to the thread by gatagato:

para.jpg

para2.jpg

[petedeamon]

I've watched these people harnessing up for a good time in Panama Beach and all is well on a calm day but putting your life in the hands of a concession operator with absolutely no experience with sky diving is asking for it. Unfortunately there is an escape clause in the concession operator's release but honestly that was truly putting profit before customer safety. What a jerk.

[pyromancer555]

This is almost in my back yard. was all on the news down here.

[Azimuth]

My daughters have done that, (parasailing) not on a windy day though.

Poor girls.

[DiamondSmiles]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/families-te...ry?id=19581376

Families of Teens in Parasailing Accident 'See More Progress'

Parents of Parasailing Accident Victims Speak Out

GEETIKA RUDRA

July 4, 2013

The families of two Indiana teens whose parasail detached from a boat and flung them into a Florida highrise said the girls are doing better.

"Our daughters, Sidney Good and Alexis Fairchild, are still at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, Florida, recovering from a parasailing accident on July 1; however we have seen more progress from yesterday," the families said in a joint statement released on July 4.

Fairchild and Good, both 17, were parasailing just off the coast of Panama City when their parasail broke loose and slammed them into a nearby condominium. Strong winds sent them into power lines and several cars in a parking lot.

The girls were taken to Bay Medical Center in critical condition, but their families say they are slowly doing better.

"Alexis was able to walk today with a walker and the assistance of a physical therapist and she walked into Sidney's room to visit. Sidney is still in critical condition, but we are seeing small signs of progress. She is able to open one of her eyes and communicate to us with nods and gestures," the statement continued.

The parasailing accident has brought to light an industry that has suprisingly little regulation. Since 1998, there have been 33 parasailing accidents in Florida alone.

Six resulted in fatalities.The company that owned the boat involved in Monday's incident, Aquatic Adventures, helped block Florida state legislation in May that would have put new safety standards in place, ABC News previously reported.

The families have set up a fund to raise money for their daughters' medical expenses, according to the statement.

Aquatic Adventures, in a statement, said, "The events of July 1, 2013 were tragic. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the injured girls and we all pray for their speedy recovery.

"While we adhere to best practices to minimize the risks associated with watersport activities, sudden weather conditions can and do occur. As a full investigation in ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this time."

[lukemiesta]

damn that would be quite horrific to experience