Parasailing Accident

Published on: August 20, 2026

Mistrial Declared in Fatal 2022 Parasailing Crash in the Florida Keys. What to Know.

A Federal Judge declared a mistrial on Monday, Aug. 3, in the case of a Florida Keys boat captain who was charged in a fatal 2022 parasailing accident.

The trial began on Monday, July 27, and involved jurors listening to testimony of what occurred on May 30, 2022, when 33-year-old Supraja Alaparthi, of Schaumburg Illinois, went parasailing with her son, 10, and 7-year-old nephew. After six days of deliberations, a federal jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, Local 10 News reported. The case will be scheduled for a new trial.

The 53-year-old boat captain was charged with voluntary manslaughter and seaman’s manslaughter. If convicted of voluntary manslaughter, a person would be guilty of a second-degree felony and could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. A person who is found guilty of seaman’s manslaughter may face up to 10 years in prison.

Published on: March 9, 2026

Vacation in the Florida Keys: What Happens if You’re Injured While Traveling?

By Leesfield & Partners

Conch fritters, reef-snorkeling excursions, and/or six-toed cats at the Hemingway house are likely the most-searched topics when researching Florida Keys vacations.

As tourists prepare their itineraries, activities for cranky children during drives across the iconic Seven Mile Bridge, and packing lists, the potential for injuries may not come to mind. In fact, it is likely the farthest thing from their minds when they picture sunning by the pool or taking that coveted first bite of Key lime pie. At Leesfield & Partners, a personal injury law firm in Florida with five decades of experience, our attorneys know just how often a vacation can be soured by an unexpected accident.

Whether it’s a seemingly harmless motorcycle ride that turns deadly or a parasailing excursion gone wrong, our attorneys work tirelessly to ensure they secure the best outcome for every client. We know that the legal system can be daunting and revisiting painful memories can seem like an impossible task, however, it is essential in the path toward justice. For many families affected by preventable injuries, accountability helps acknowledge their pain and can lead to meaningful change aimed at preventing others from suffering the same harm.

Published on: September 25, 2025

Community Honors Boy, 17, Who Died in Florida Keys Diving Accident. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Community members and their local fire department gathered over the weekend to honor a 17-year-old, who had dreamed of becoming a firefighter, after his diving death in the Florida Keys.

Cameron Ruwe died while on a family trip off Grassy Key on Saturday, Sept. 13, just a week shy of his birthday, according to reporting from NBC 6 South Florida. He had been using a hookah rig, a surface-supplied air system, while he went underwater. He was given CPR before emergency responders took him to Fishermen’s Hospital in Marathon, Florida, where he was pronounced dead.

His stepmother, Katherine Zaensi, said Cameron was rarely seen without a smile and that he “never, ever, ever had a bad day.”

Published on: September 25, 2025

Broward County Teen Dies in Florida Keys Diving Accident. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A 17-year-old teenager died over the weekend while diving using a hookah rig in the Florida Keys, according to reporting from The Miami Herald.

The boy, later identified as Cameron Isaiah Ruwe, was diving with several others on Saturday using a hookah rig — a type of diving that uses a surface-based compressor to deliver air through a hose. The group and their vessel were near Grassy Key around 1:30 p.m. when Cameron attempted to swim back to his boat and “went underwater,” according to local media.

The people who were with him attempted to perform CPR before emergency responders arrived. He was taken to Fisherman’s Community Hospital in Marathon where he was pronounced dead.

Published on: September 25, 2025

Child on the mend after shark bite in the Florida Keys. There’s another hazard in the area you’re more likely to face.

By Leesfield & Partners

The family of an 8-year-old boy from Pinecrest, Florida, who was attacked by a shark while snorkeling near Key Largo said he is getting stronger each day.

The boy, identified as Richard Burrows, was snorkeling with his father, David, and 10-year-old sister, Rose, around 3:24 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1. when he was bitten by a blacktip shark, according to reporting from national media.

A Good Samaritan helped Burrows apply a tourniquet to Richard’s right leg while they waited for emergency responders. He was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami where he underwent surgery.

Published on: August 12, 2025

Florida Keys Boat Captain Indicted in Deadly 2022 Parasailing Accident

By Leesfield & Partners

A federal grand jury charged a Florida Keys boat captain in relation to a parasailing accident that resulted in the death of a woman and the injury of two children in 2022.

A 52-year-old boat captain was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with one count of seaman’s manslaughter. The charge stems from Memorial Day 2022 when the captain took out 33-year-old Supraja Alaparthi, her son, 10, and her 9-year-old nephew on a parasailing excursion in a 31-foot boat. Alaparthi died from her injuries and her nephew was severely injured. Her son suffered minor injuries, according to local media.

The family was already in the air around 5 p.m. on May 30, 2022, when a strong storm gust caused an issue, causing the captain and at least one other employee on the boat to lower the group back to the water. The National Weather Service had predicted high winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms before the group set out on the water. The gust was so strong that the “parasail also risked dragging the boat,” according to reporting from The Miami Herald. The captain did not steer the boat side-to-side or attempt another technique to lessen the wind underneath the parasail. Instead, he cut the cable tethering the parasail harness to the boat with a knife.

Published on: August 11, 2020

KEY WEST- Leesfield & Partners Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Parasailing Operator on Behalf of 10-Year-Old Son Following Dad Nicholas Hayward’s Death

By Leesfield & Partners

Leesfield & partners attorneys have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Sunset Watersports, the company operating the parasailing tour that resulted in the death of Nicholas Hayward. Mr. Hayward is survived by his 10-year-old son.

On July 17, Sunset Watersports’ boat captain, Andrew Santeiro, harnessed Nicholas and his girlfriend to their parasail and launched them in the air despite dangerous weather conditions. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s investigative arm has already concluded that “severe weather [was] a contributing factor”. Leesfield & Partners say that “this incident would not have occurred but for Sunset Watersports’ utter disregard for the safety of its passengers and violations of Florida Law.” Attorneys further say that “Witnesses have already confirmed that the boat operator was displaying a ‘cowboy attitude’ ignoring passengers’ screams to slow down. Passengers report the operator never should have put them out there because they could not even stand on the deck without tipping over.”

Florida Statute 327.375 prohibits parasailing if the observed wind conditions are more than 20 mph or wind gusts are more than 25 mph. “Laws mean nothing if your health and safety are in the hands of cowboys who do not think the law applies to them. A young boy will grow up without a father because a boat operator wanted to play chicken with Mother Nature.”

Published on: July 19, 2020

Fatal Parasailing incident in Key West Underscores Limits of Florida Parasailing Laws

By Leesfield & Partners

This week, a tragic parasailing incident took the life of 36-year-old Nicholas Hayward and critically injured 28-year-old Azalea Silva. This is a very sad reminder that Florida laws regulating – or attempting to regulate – the parasailing industry are still utterly inadequate and do not protect life. A very similar case was handled by Leesfield & Partners in 2007, which resulted in the passage of the very first law of its kind in the state of Florida. Ira Leesfield and Leesfield & Partners have been at the forefront of this issue, and it is time for reform.

The Miami Herald has reported on the latest incident that the commercial boat used to launch tourists up their parasail was operated by Sunset Watersports. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which investigates all boating accidents, has already stated that “severe weather [was] a contributing factor with this boating accident.” The spokesman for FWC, Officer Bobby Dube, described to reporters that the boat was operating in the middle of “harsh weather” when the incident occurred at around noon. Dube added that the incident took place as the duo began their ascent, they apparently fell very quickly and crashed in the water.

Regulation of the Florida parasailing industry is very light. The Amber May Law came into effect on October 1, 2014. It was named after Amber May, a young teenager who perished in a similar parasailing incident in 2007 in Broward County. Amber and her younger sister were also sent in the air as a duo in the middle of severe weather. Neither the small boat nor the rope could resist the high winds, and ultimately the rope snapped. The girls were catapulted against nearby buildings and hotels. Crystal, Amber May’s sister, lost her best friend and sustained a traumatic brain injury in an incident that was 100% preventable. Leesfield & Partners filed suit against multiple defendants immediately and secured a settlement on behalf of the family.