Indian-American Man Sues Boat Captain Over Wife's Death While Parasailing

An Indian-American man, Srinivasrao Alaparthi, has filed a lawsuit against a Florida resort, a parasailing boat’s captain and his first mate, alleging negligence and wrongful death after his 33-year-old wife died while on a vacation last year.

Alaparthi filed a 68-page lawsuit in Monroe County circuit court earlier last week against the boat captain, his first mate and the resort, Captain Pip’s Marina & Hideaway, alleging negligence and wrongful death, The Washington Post reported.

Man Sues Florida resort over wife's Death

On May 30, 2022, Alaparthi, his wife Supraja, their son, and nephew went parasailing while vacationing in the Florida Keys when the weather turned bad. Minutes after the parasail lifted into the sky, the boat’s captain cut the towline connecting it to the boat, and the wife and the two boys plunged into the water. Due to the harsh winds, the trio was dragged through the water for two miles — until they slammed into the concrete pillar of a bridge.

In a 68-page lawsuit, Alaparthi alleged that the boat’s crew should have done any number of things that would have prevented the fatal accident. Instead, he stated that the crew failed to check the weather forecast, and resorted to cutting the towline before trying to regain control of the parachute. He added that they didn’t even radio the US Coast Guard for help.

Fishing guide John Callion first arrived at the crash site, cut all three from the parasail, and two passengers on his boat performed CPR on the boys.

“I can’t help but think that if the people we trusted from the parasailing company and Captain Pip’s Marina had done their jobs, my wife would still be with us today,” Alaparthi was quoted as saying during a press conference.

“We trusted these companies, but they let us down in the worst possible way.” Last year, he had also filed a lawsuit against the parasailing company, Lighthouse Parasailing, which operated out of Captain Pip’s Marina.

In September last year, the boat’s captain Daniel Couch, 50, was charged with manslaughter and multiple boating violations. He has pleaded not guilty.

“We are trying best to focus on the happy memories we shared with my wife and keep her memories alive,” Alaparthi said.

Image from AmericanKahani.com

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