Husband of woman who died in parasailing accident describes BEGGING captain to save them

The husband of a woman killed during a parasailing accident on the Florida Keys on Memorial Day last year, has spoken out for the first time.

Srinivasrao Alaparthi, has told of the terrifying day his wife Supraja Alaparthi, 33, their ten-year-old son and nine-year-old nephew were cut lose from their parasail after becoming caught in wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour. 

The device crashed back down to earth, hitting the Old Seven Mile Bridge just west of Marathon, killing Supraja Alaparthi and leaving their two kids injured.

Srinivasrao Alaparthi told Good Morning America of the moment things took a turn towards tragedy: 'The captain was concerned, his actions were terrified and I was also scared.'

Describing when the captain cut the rope, he said 'I didn't observe what exactly he's doing, when exactly he cut the rope,' he said.  

Srinivasrao Alaparthi described the moment things to took a turn towards tragedy

Daniel Gavin Couch, 49, was charged with manslaughter and breaches of commercial parasailing laws

'It all came off like fragmented and like that situations were crazy but obviously, whatever he was doing, it was concerning for all of us.'

Srinivasrao Alaparthi's lawyer Ricky Patel explained that his client begged the driver to help his wife 'he was holding the captain's leg begging him to please go out there and save them.

'And he goes ahead and tells them 'don't worry, the bridge will help.' 

In September 2022 the boat's captain Daniel Gavin Couch, 49, was charged with manslaughter and breaches of commercial parasailing laws. He pleaded not guilty. 

'Daniel Couch had an utter disregard for the care of his passengers, who entrusted him with their lives by allowing them to fly [even] after he acknowledged that the weather was quickly deteriorating,' the state's arrest warrant stated. 

'Upon realizing the parasail was no longer under his control, Daniel Crouch made a gross and flagrant decision to cut the tow line, the only means of the passengers' safe return to the vessel, without taking into reasonable account any other available actions.

The captain made the disastrous decision to cut the rope attaching the parasail to the boat, allowing the device to crash back down to earth

The parasail hit the Old Seven Mile Bridge just west of Marathon, killing Supraja Alaparthi

Happier times: The couple pictured here before tragedy hit on the family vacation 

Supraja Alaparthi was pronounced dead at the scene, her son and nephew were taken to hospital for their injuries

Alaparthi is now suing the boat captain, his colleague, the boat company and the marina over the death of his wife 

'This indifference to the consequences of his decisions and actions resulted in the death and serious injuries to these parasailers.' 

The warrant alleges that Couch did not maneuver his vessel under the bridge to offer aid 'even though the family members on the parasail vessel later reported they were begging him to help'.

Srinivasrao Alaparthi has now filed a lawsuit against Couch, his colleague, the boat company and the marina.

He alleges they did not check weather reports that should have prevented them from sailing, failed to provide enough safety equipment including life jackets and did not properly bring down the parasail after losing control. 

Lawyer Pedro Echarte  added: 'There were so many opportunities to stop this from happening, but instead there was failure, after failure after failure.'

He advised families planning there summer vacations this year to take extra precautions, and ask questions of adventure activity retailers rather than relying on signage.