Montenegro: Panic-stricken teen plunges to death after unbuckling herself during parasail
A teenager has died after falling 50m from a parasail during a possible panic attack, with the entire incident caught on camera.
Tijana Randonjic was on holiday in Montenegro when she was approached on the beach to participate in a promotional shoot for a water sports agency and was offered a free parasail, according to Republika.
Despite undergoing training and appearing to be in good spirits, chilling footage taken from the parasail shows the 19-year-old from Serbia unzipping and taking off what looks to be a floatation vest, unbuckling a lap belt and then flipping upside down out of loops holding her legs and falling about 50m into the Adriatic Sea.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It is not known what prompted Ms Radonjic to remove her safety restraints but there is speculation she could have been having a panic attack.
Witnesses reported hearing her scream “put me down” moments before the May 28 tragedy.
It is understood Ms Radonjic’s cousin was filming the ride from the beach.
“She was waving while she was parasailing from that lower height, you could see that she was enjoying herself, and then they slipped behind the hill and they started to lift her higher and higher, she slipped out of her aunt’s sight and that’s when the tragedy happened, so she didn’t see the tragedy,” a relative told Republika.
The parasail company owner said staff were in shock after the accident.
“She did not show any fear of flying. She underwent training after which the tragedy followed. Technical inspections of all the equipment are underway and the results of the autopsy are awaited,” Mirko Krdzic said.
“Before we set off, she waved to her friends on the beach and they waved back. Everything seemed fine. We don’t know why she unbuckled her seat belt and harness and jumped out.”
“I guess she didn’t do it consciously, but in a moment of uncontrollable fear.”
Her family have said Ms Radonjic was not suicidal.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy is underway.
