Rhodes parasailing accident: Two arrested after two Brits, 13 & 15, are killed & third teen fighting for life
TWO people have been arrested after two British teenagers died and a third was left fighting for his life following a horrific parasailing accident in Greece. A boy of 15 and a girl, 13, were killed falling from an “extremely high” altitude on to coastal rocks. Another boy, also aged 15, was in a critical condition. […]
TWO people have been arrested after two British teenagers died and a third was left fighting for his life following a horrific parasailing accident in Greece.
A boy of 15 and a girl, 13, were killed falling from an “extremely high” altitude on to coastal rocks.
Another boy, also aged 15, was in a critical condition.
All three — believed to be from the same family — were being towed by a speedboat off Rhodes when the rope attached to their parachute snapped in strong winds near the resort of Lindos.
Two were declared dead while the second boy is said to be in a critical condition in hospital.
Greek police were reported in the local media as having arrested the owner of the sea sport business and the speed boat captain.
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“They have been ordered to appear before a public prosecutor,” one police source told Sun Online.
It is thought the pair will be questioned by the state prosecutor who may well level charges on Thursday
One source said: “It was a horrific accident. Three of them were all up in the sky at an extremely high altitude, around 400 to 500ft, when the rope attached to their parachute and the speedboat snapped.
“It clearly wasn’t strong enough to be pulling all three of them at the same time.
“Strong winds carried them across the sky and moments later they smashed into a cliff-face on the beach.
“All of them were parasailing at the same time but it is illegal for three to be doing it at once.”
The Greek coastguard confirmed two were found dead on the rocks near Cape Gina.
It was a horrific accident. Three of them were all up in the sky at an extremely high altitude, around 400 to 500ft, when the rope attached to their parachute and the speedboat snapped
A source
The other boy was rushed to hospital after being found nearby by firefighters, and was reportedly put into a medically-induced coma after suffering multiple injuries.
The family of the three youngsters are holidaying in the area of Pefki, according to Greek news website Ektaktanea.gr.
Greek media suggested that the owner violated sea sport regulations banning three people, or more, being towed by a boat at any one time.
Gale force winds have also been blamed for the tragedy raising questions as to whether the young Brits should have been allowed to parasail in such stormy weather.
High winds had caused the group to drift towards the rocks, Greek media reported.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of two British people following their death in Rhodes, and are in contact with the Greek authorities.”
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A holidaymaker who saw the glider sprawled against rocks after the accident said: “Fire engines attended the scene but couldn’t actually get anywhere near the accident, due to the lack of roads round the mountainside.”
Sources said the speedboat’s captain and co-captain were being quizzed by cops last night.
And the Greek business owner who runs the parasailing company is also being questioned.
