Cruise Ship Law

A father who lost a daughter in a parasailing accident earlier this month in Pompano has filed a suit against those involved.

In the suit, Dennis White names Wyndham Vacation Resorts, Pompano Beach Water Sports, and boat operator Scott Kipp.

White says his daughters, Crystal and Amber White of Summerfield, Florida, were staying at Wyndham Royal Vista Resort in Pompano Beach when they decided to take advantage of the parasail operation, Pompano Beach Water Sports, offered by the resort.

As the boat head north near Pompano Beach, the winds increased from 15 mph to 25 mph and seas became choppy. When Kipp tried to pull the girls back in, the tow line to their parachute snapped against the force of the wind and sent the girls flying towards the buildings on shore. Both girls crashed into a second story hotel balcony of the Beachcomber Hotel. 15-year old Amber suffered critical neck and head wounds along with internal injuries. She was pronounced brain dead Sunday evening and kept on life support until her organs could be harvested. 17-year old Crystal suffered a head injury along with numerous cuts and bruises. She was released from the hospital several days after the accident.

The suit claims Pompano Beach Water Sports and its employee Scott Kipp were negligent in that they put Crystal and Amber up in a parasail under “extraordinarily dangerous weather conditions” and failed to maintain control of the parasail once it was aloft.

White said in filing this lawsuit, he hopes that those responsible for his daughter's death cannot continue to put the lives of others in danger.

Attorneys Jason and Debi Chalik of Ft. Lauderdale have been retained by the White Family. In addition to representing the White’s in their Broward court case, they will also fight in Tallahassee to regulate the parasailing industry in Florida.

CBS4
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