Key West Injury Lawyer Blog
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.
An arrest warrant for the captain alleges that he violated multiple commercial parasailing statutes, local media reported.
A new trial date has not yet been announced.
What Happened?
The family had booked a parasailing excursion on a 31-foot boat. 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. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officials explained to reporters that this incident is called “pegging” and is used to describe when a parasail turns into a sail in high winds. The captain allegedly did not steer the boat side-to-side or attempt another technique to lessen the wind underneath the parasail. Instead, he reportedly cut the cable tethering the parasail harness to the boat with a knife.
The captain allegedly told investigators he believed he would be able to pick up the family after they dropped into the water. The three were dragged with the parasail for miles before crashing into the Seven Mile Bridge. Following the crash, a fishing guide in a flats boat and two charter passengers rescued the family from the water and performed CPR. The guide took them to a nearby restaurant that first responders were using as a staging area where Alaparthi died.
Investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Couch did not steer his boat under the bridge to release the three after they hit it and were trapped in the parasail. Her nephew was severely injured and her son sustained minor injuries, local media reported.
As of 2026, investigators told reporters at The Herald that the nephew has since recovered physically.
Leesfield & Partners
The hearts of the attorneys and staff at Leesfield & Partners go out to the Apaparthi and Sadda families following this horrific ordeal. For five decades, Leesfield & Partners has cultivated deep roots throughout the Florida Keys. Before the firm was established, Founder and Managing Partner Ira Leesfield tried his first ever case as a fledgling trial attorney in Monroe County. In 1980, the firm acquired its Key West office on historic Whitehead Street. This strong presence throughout the Florida Keys has given our attorneys a front-row seat to all that the area has to offer — unique wildlife, rich history, and a deep-seated connection to the ocean.
As any Floridian can attest, the ocean is a way of life in the Sunshine State. It attracts thousands of tourists every year, is a source of income for locals, and is the backdrop of fun-filled memories for countless families. Whether spending afternoons speeding over waves on a boat or jet ski, diving for lobster, or snorkeling along a reef, the water is intrinsically tied to countless activities. With this unique access, however, comes incredible responsibility.
The FWC noted in its 2025 report that there were 694 reportable boating accidents statewide with 51 deaths and nearly 400 injuries. Monroe County was the area in the state with the most boating accidents, including the death of at lest one person and the injury to 56 others. The agency noted that 67% of boaters involved in fatal incidents throughout the state in 2025 had no formal boater’s education.
Our skilled trial attorneys have seen just about every injury that can occur on the water involving deadly crashes on boats, jet skis, and while parasailing. For decades, Leesfield & Partners has been at the forefront of parasailing safety from advisory campaigns to promoting the implementation of safer laws and regulations in Tallahassee. The firm’s heavy involvement in advocating for safety reform came about after the firm represented the family of two teen girls whose lives were forever changed following a Florida parasailing accident.
“Among all water-based recreation activities that Floridians participate in year-round, parasailing has proven to be the most dangerous,” Mr. Leesfield said in a 2014 article addressing the dangers of this activity. “By the very nature of parasailing, accidents invariably result in either catastrophic injuries or death.”
Previous Cases
In the case involving the sisters, Leesfield & Partners obtained a confidential result for the family. On the day of the excursion, the boat towed the parasail with the sisters in the air and strong winds pushed the pair ashore. The girls were left “dangling dangerously high up in the air, at the mercy of the elements,” Mr. Leesfield said. The towing rope snapped and the girls were dragged across the rooftops of nearby buildings before falling into palm trees. Tragically, one sister died and the other suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Leesfield & Partners previously represented a family through a wrongful death case against a parasailing operator. The firm obtained a $17 million recovery on behalf of the family for the death of their loved one.
Another parasailing wrongful death case resulted in a $15 million recovery.
A cruise-ship-sanctioned parasailing adventure was purchased by a mother and daughter while the two were on board their cruise ship. Once they were up in the air, however, an equipment tragically malfunctioned and sent them hurdling toward the water. The mother was killed and her daughter was left with a traumatic brain injury.
Leesfield & Partners obtained a $7.25 million settlement for the family in that case.
Previously, the firm represented a client who suffered brain damage following a parasailing incident in Florida. The firm obtained a $4.46 million recovery in that case.
A $2.6 million recovery was secured for a family whose loved one was killed in a parasailing incident.
Leesfield & Partners represented a woman who suffered brain damage after a parasailing incident at a resort. The firm obtained over $1.5 million in that case.
Another resort parasailing case ended tragically with the death of a family’s loved one. The firm obtained over $1.2 million for the grieving family in that case.
