Parasailing incident leaves passengers injured; operator fails to report
Overview
An unexpected wind-shift during parasailing operations caused 2 airborne passengers to contact the water at speed. They were recovered by the vessel and returned to shore. Both passengers later informed the operator that they had sustained injuries during the event. The owner then failed to report this as a marine incident to us.
What happened
A parasailing activity commenced with a safety briefing for the passengers conducted by the deckhand. While the passengers were in mid-flight, a dramatic wind shift caused complications in keeping the 2 passengers in the air. The skipper accelerated but the vessel could not lift the passengers to a higher altitude. The passengers contacted the water at speed. The deck hand cut the chute line and secured a ladder to the side of the vessel. Meanwhile, the passengers detached themselves from the parachute as per the safety briefing and boarded the vessel. The passengers returned to shore.
After the incident, the passengers informed the operator that they sustained injuries. While the skipper informed the owners of the parasail operation of the incident, the owners did not report the event as a marine incident to us.
Investigation findings
The owners of the parasail operation had not reported the incident, even though the incident led or could have led to injuries being sustained. The safety management system was compliant, and the skipper and crew followed the emergency procedures at the time. The passenger briefing was effective.
However, it was found the owners of the operation failed to report the marine incident for up to a year after the event. Such incidents provide an opportunity for operations to review their safety management systems and ensure control measures are in place to avoid re-occurrence or more serious outcomes.
Safety message
The winter months are an ideal time for tourism and thrill-ride operators to review their safety management systems and emergency procedures ahead of the peak season. We have produced safety guidance specifically for parasail operators, outlining special considerations for safety briefings, emergency procedures and risk assessments.
Evaluating what went wrong provides an opportunity for operators to review their control measures and ensure their safety management system remains fit for purpose. Additionally, under the National Law, the owner or master of a domestic commercial vessel are required to complete an incident report. Incident reporting enables the development of more effective safety guidance and advice for owners, operators and crew to avoid similar events in the future.