PANAMA CITY BEACH — In the company’s first public statement since two teenage girls were critically injured in a parasailing crash in Panama City Beach, Aquatic Adventures extended their sympathy to the victims and their families Wednesday, and said the incident was “tragic.”
“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the injured girls and we all pray for their speedy recovery,” wrote Jeff Jones, owner of Aquatic Adventures. “While we adhere to best practices to minimize the risks associated with watersport activities, sudden weather conditions can and do occur.”
Jones noted that an investigation into the incident by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is ongoing, and that Aquatic Adventures is “unable to comment further at this time.”
Wednesday, Sidney Renea Good and Alexis Fairchild, 17-year-old girls from Roanoke, Ind., still were in critical condition at Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart Health System, according to a statement released by their families. They each suffered head trauma and severe lacerations in the incident. Fairchild has undergone spinal surgery. Both girls are communicating with their families and hospital staffers through small movements, including hand gestures.
“Both girls sustained head trauma as well as multiple severe lacerations,” according to the statement. “Alexis has severe back injuries and Sidney has neck trauma. However, we are fortunately seeing some positive signs from both Sidney and Alexis. Sidney has been responsive to caregivers and has been able to use small movements to communicate including a thumbs up for her parents. Alexis had surgery (Wednesday) on her spine and has also been responsive including a small wave at her parents when she returned from surgery. Our families are incredibly touched by all the support we've received from friends at home and from many people we haven't met before who are praying for our girls. While the situation is still critical we are encouraged by these very small signs of progress. We have heard from so many generous people who have offered to help and we are working to establish a fund for the medical care of both Sidney and Alexis. We will have more information on that to come. Thank you again to all who are thinking of and praying for our girls. Your prayers are working!”
The girls were critically injured Monday after their parasailing line detached. Strong winds carried the girls’ parachute to shore, where they struck the high-rise condominium complex The Commodore. Witnesses said the girls were then blown into a power line before striking a vehicle in The Commodore parking lot and landing on the pavement.
The National Weather Service was unable to provide data on shoreline wind conditions during the parasailing crash, but several witnesses said as the storm approached, wind gusts sent beach chairs and umbrellas tumbling across the sand. Meanwhile, Good and Fairchild were still parasailing.
The captain of the Aquatic Adventures parasailing boat, 30-year-old Tyler Churchwell, has not commented on the incident.