Local law enforcement is investigating a parasailing accident this week that left one tourist dead and another seriously injured and hospitalized.
At approximately 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, two tourists, both passengers on the Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship, were injured while participating in a parasail excursion off St. Thomas.
Government officials put out a release after receiving the news, saying that they were “deeply saddened” by the “tragic incident.”
“Gov. John deJongh Jr. expresses his deepest condolences to those affected by this tragic accident and has directed the Department of Tourism to work closely with the victims’ family to provide support and assistance in this time of need,” according to a release from the Tourism Department.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are being actively investigated and additional details will be shared as soon as they are available,” also according to the release.
Several government agencies were called in to investigate the incident, including the V.I. Police Department, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, and the Attorney General’s Office.
These agencies have also been working in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard at the federal level.
The Department of Tourism also remains in close contact with Celebrity Cruises to ensure that there is constant communication regarding the incident and to ensure that any concerns of cruise guests are addressed, the release said.
“We remain committed to working closely with all our partners to ensure a safe visitor experience,” according to the release. “As a prudent measure in response to the incident, the government of the Virgin Islands has worked closely with the parasail company who has voluntarily suspended operations until the completion of a full-compliance inspection.”
