Wethersfield woman dies in para-sailing accident

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A vacation in Florida came to a tragic end for a Wethersfield woman.

She was para-sailing with her husband when a harness broke, sending her plunging 200 feet into the water below.

Kathleen Miskell and her husband Stephen were on a para-sail, flying over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Pompano Beach when tragedy struck.

"The young lady was with her husband, they were on a tandem being pulled by a para-sail and her harness failed and broke and she fell," said Mayor Lamar Fisher, Pompano Beach, FL.

A rescue boat arriving on the scene was able to pluck Stephen out of the water, when it circled back for Kathleen she had already gone into cardiac arrest.

The boat captain performed CPR, but she was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Locals say para-sailing is not for the faint-of-heart.

"It's like getting on a roller coaster to do that, like with anything the risks are inherent," said...

The company that operated the para-sail is an outfit called Wave Blast Water Sports out of Pompano Beach.

Florida's Fish and Wildlife Commission is now investigating to determine what caused the harness to fail.

The city's mayor says there's not enough oversight being done on companies that offer para-sailing.

"So these boats and these harnesses and this equipment can be inspected on a regular basis and right now that's not occurring," Mayor Fisher said.

Whatever is done to better regulate the industry, it comes too late for the Connecticut couple who were hoping to enjoy the thrill of a lifetime.

"It's sad you know what, I mean probably here on vacation and this tragedy happened, it's very sad," said...

According to broadcast reports out of Florida, the possibility of criminal charges can not be ruled out in a case like this.

Of course, that would likely involve the para-sailing company.

It's estimated that there have been about 70 para-sailing fatalities nationwide over the past 30 years.