19-year-old student reportedly has a panic attack and unbuckles her seatbelt while parasailing in Montenegro.
Tijana Radonjic sadly passed after falling into the Adriatic Sea from 160 feet in the air.
The owner of the parasailing company says Radonjic was in a cheerful mood… pic.twitter.com/miJlJQYhE8
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 2, 2025
This tragedy underscores a larger issue—how well are adventure tourism companies prepared for emergencies? Parasailing, like many extreme sports, carries inherent risks. But when a young woman falls to her death in such a manner, it raises serious concerns about safety protocols. Was she given proper psychological screening before the flight? Were there safeguards in place to prevent accidental unbuckling? These are not just theoretical questions; they are matters of life and death.
Radonjic’s family is devastated, rejecting any suggestion that she intentionally caused her own death. Friends describe her as full of life, always smiling, and excited about her trip. This was not a person who seemed suicidal. The investigation will need to determine whether equipment failure, human error, or psychological distress played a role.
Tourism operators must take responsibility. If a panic attack can lead to a fatal fall, then the industry must rethink its approach to safety. Stronger harnesses, emergency intervention protocols, and psychological assessments should be mandatory. Adventure tourism thrives on excitement, but it must never come at the cost of human lives.
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