By KBC Associate :max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(728x664:730x666)/parasailing-adriatic-sea-060225-b5638b68e5354e579f5aadd970939b51.jpg?ssl=1 "19-Year-Old Allegedly Unfastened Parasailing Safety Belt and Died: Reports")
NEED TO KNOW
- A Serbian teen died last week after allegedly unfastening her safety belt while parasailing, according to her family and local news reports
- The fatal incident occurred in Budva, Montenegro
- “I can’t believe it’s true. She is a wonderful child,” a neighbor said
A Serbian teen died last week after allegedly unfastening her safety belt while parasailing in Montenegro, according to her family and local news reports. She was 19.
The girl’s father, identified only as Goran R., confirmed her death, telling Republika, “It’s true, there was an accident.”
“I just headed there,” he added, according to a translation. “I can’t tell you anything else.”
The girl, named Tijana, is believed to have died on Wednesday, May 28, after falling more than 160 feet into the Adriatic Sea in Budva.
A neighbor told Republika, “I can’t believe it’s true. She is a wonderful child. The whole family is wonderful.”
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The neighbor shared that Goran, who is a taxi driver, and his wife, who works as a hairdresser, have two children and “are people who are ready to come to everyone’s aid.”
Harrowing video reviewed by Serbian outlet Kurir reportedly depicts the young woman in the air and struggling to remove her safety belt — for some reason — before taking off her life jacket and plummeting to her death within 30 seconds.
The outlet reports that she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The young woman agreed to go parasailing after a representative for the parasailing company had approached her on the beach and offered a free flight, according to Kurir.
“We are all in shock after the accident that happened … I do not know exactly what happened,” Mirko Krdzic, the owner of the company, told the outlet.
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“She did not show any fear of flying. She underwent training after which the tragedy followed,” Krdzic said. “Technical inspections of all the equipment are underway and the results of the autopsy are awaited.”
Officials in Montenegro are investigating her death, and her body will be transported to her home city of Novi Sad, Serbia, the outlet reports.
Local authorities could not be reached for comment.