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Srinivasrao Alaparthi, husband of a woman who tragically died in a parasailing accident in the Florida Keys last year is speaking out on the tragedy. 

The Illinois man explained that the goal of the lawsuits he filed was to ensure that no other family goes through what his family is dealing with. 

He said since his wife’s death, his family takes things “one day at a time”. And said his late wife was “an incredible person, full of life and love.”

 The lawsuit names the boat captain Daniel Couch, his first mate, and resort marina Captain Pips Marina.

Parasailing accident

Supraja Alaparthi, 33, was enjoying a parasailing adventure with her son and nephew on May 30, 2022.

 The family raised concerns about the weather before booking the parasailing trip, but their concerns were dismissed by the company.

According to the incident report filed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Captain Couch took the group out parasailing despite poor weather conditions. And when conditions worsened, he cut the towline to the parasail.

 The investigation commission said that Couch's decision to cut the line was deemed "gross and flagrant." 

The lawsuit alleges that cutting the line resulted in the family members being dropped from an unknown height and dragged through the water before colliding with a bridge. 

Supraja was pronounced dead at the scene, while her son and nephew were rushed to the hospital for their injuries.

 "When I look back on the day of the incident, I can't help but think that if the people we trusted from the parasailing company and Captain Pips Marina had done their jobs, my wife would still be with us today. We trust these companies, but they let us down in the worst way possible."

Lawsuit details

The lawsuit highlights several failures, including the lack of proper safety equipment for passengers, failure to check weather reports adequately, and improper handling of the parasail during the descent. 

Pedro Echarte, Alaparthi’s attorney emphasized the numerous missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy.

"There were so many opportunities for them to stop this from happening but yet, there's failure, after failure, after failure," Echarte said.

Captain Couch, who faced charges of manslaughter and multiple boating violations. pleaded not guilty in September. 

The arrest warrant also mentioned that the family members on the parasail vessel had pleaded for the captain's help. Still, he failed to maneuver the vessel under the bridge to offer assistance.

Couch pleaded not guilty in September.

The public defender's office representing Couch declined to comment on the ongoing case.

Alaparthi talked about the devastating impact the incident has had on the family, particularly on Supraja's son and nephew. The children were injured. And they witnessed the tragedy. 

He is determined to keep his wife's memories alive. And believes that this legal action will bring about much-needed change within the parasailing industry.