Lawmakers push for parasailing bill

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- South Florida lawmakers are pushing for change to protect parasailers after two deaths called the diversion into question.

Two parasailing deaths have already occurred in South Florida in just a few years. Now lawmakers are hoping to make a change to protect future parasail patrons. "The last two deaths that occurred in the Sate of Florida from parasailing occurred here in the City of Pompano Beach, and that's wrong," said Senator Maria Sachs, Dem.-FL, 30th District.

Fifteen-year-old Amber White was visiting from North Florida in 2007. White and her sister were parasailing when their towrope snapped off throwing White on a hotel roof. She died from the impact. "They want to experience the thrill of parasailing, and they do so at their own risk, and that should not continue anymore," said Sachs.

In August, 28-year-old Kathleen Miskell and her husband were parasailing when her harness broke off, dropping her 200 feet to the water. She later died from her injuries. "She was a person of faith, beliefs, you know, God took her," said her father James Mulcahy.

Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Fisher wants to see parasailing industry regulated. "We regulate everything else, but unfortunately this industry has not been regulated. I don't know why," said Fisher.

Sachs is trying to propose a bill to be named, if passed, after the victims. The White-Miskell Bill would be designed to make parasailing safer. "It's ridiculous. It's obscured not to have safety regulations on commercial tow operators that operate parasailing," she said.

The only requirement for parasailing operators is a boat license and a US Coast Guard certificate of vessel.

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