A 28-year-old Wethersfield woman died after falling 200 feet in a parasailing accident off Pompano Beach, Florida , authorities said.
The woman, identified by authorities as Kathleen Miskell, was parasailing tandem with her husband offshore in Pompano Beach when her harness broke at 3:18 p.m. Wednesday and she fell into the water, city spokeswoman Sandra King said in a statement.
Miskell's husband, Stephen Miskell, was not hurt, and was reeled into the boat, by the boat's operator.
The couple's next store neighbors in Wethersfield were stunned to learn of Kathleen's death.
"My heart is breaking for Stephen and the whole family," Sarah Hinman, the couple's friend, said.
Hinman and her husband, Christopher, have been friends with the Miskell's ever since they moved into the neighborhood on Highview Ave. about a year ago.
"Nice girl, Stephen, her husband, great people, we know them, we hung out with them, really great people," Christopher Hinman said.
We're told Miskell graduated from Manchester High School in 2002.
"Kathleen was a really sweet, friendly person, she was very outgoing," Sarah Hinman said.
Local
Kathleen Miskell was found face-down in the water and pulled into the boat. They started CPR, called 911 and brought Miskell to the Hillsboro Inlet. Miskell was in cardiac arrest as Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue continued CPR and administered “advanced life support”, according to King.
She was taken to a Broward County Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The Miskells were vacationing in Florida, King said.
