British Man Dies in Parasailing Accident Off Malta Coast
A 59-year-old British tourist was killed and a woman was seriously injured when strong winds caused them to fall into the sea during a parasailing excursion.
A British man has died and a woman was seriously injured in a parasailing accident off the coast of Malta.
The 59-year-old man and a 60-year-old British woman were participating in the water sport approximately 1.5 miles off St. Julian's on September 19 when strong winds reportedly swept them away. They fell into the sea around 1 p.m.
Emergency services were alerted, and the pair were brought back to shore, where they received medical attention. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was taken to Mater Dei Hospital with serious injuries.
Police are investigating the incident, with Magistrate Renata Farrugia presiding over an inquiry. Parasailing involves individuals being towed behind a boat while attached to a parachute-like canopy.
According to the Parasail Safety Council, an estimated five million people engage in parasailing globally each year, with over 1,200 accidents reported in the past three decades.
In a separate incident in August, a British tourist died in a parasailing accident in Benidorm, Spain. Strong winds reportedly caused a line to break, leading to the 66-year-old woman falling onto rocks. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.
The UK's Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.