Details of the parachute tragedy in Nesebar: Two were detained

BURGAS – The District Court in Burgas has thoroughly examined the tragic incident in which an 8-year-old child died after falling from a parasail in Nessebar, providing new, important details about the circumstances. The case reveals contradictions regarding the responsibilities and safety of the attractions, raising questions about the regulatory framework and control in the sector.

The courtroom yesterday was filled with tension as the judge listened to the defense and the prosecution. Ultimately, the court ordered the permanent detention of two of the accused, who are directly related to the case. This concerns the sailor who attached the broken harnesses to the child, as well as the man identified as the informal head of the water sports base. These decisions were made against a backdrop of serious accusations of negligence and a lack of adequate safety measures that led to the child's death.

However, the court made a different decision regarding the captain of the boat that was towing the parasail, releasing him on bail. His defense attorney, Vanya Radieva, explained the court's motives, as well as her client's position in a television interview.

"I am a mother too. A few years ago, my 8-year-old daughter and I went on such an attraction. It never crossed my mind that something could happen and that our safety might have been in question", she shared.

Radieva outlined her main defense argument, which focuses on the limited nature of the captain's role.

"Regarding my client, the main arguments I presented were that my client was the captain of the boat", she stated.

According to the lawyer, he had no other authority except to take care of the safety and course of the vessel.

"He had no organizational or technical authority", Radieva emphasized.

She added that despite her repeated attempts, she never received access to her client's job description, which would have clarified his exact duties. The lawyer insisted that the captain's only connection to the incident is the fact that he is an employee of the site.

During the court session, photos of the broken harnesses were also shown, but according to the defense attorney, they did not show clearly visible defects.

"I did not see the harnesses as visibly torn", she pointed out.

She described their condition as follows:

"Rather, on one side, the harness was slightly twisted. And at the top, where the bar attaches, a thread was simply sticking out".

According to lawyer Radieva, the harnesses broke simultaneously at the same spot.

In connection with the course of the investigation, which is still in a very early stage, multiple expert examinations will be ordered. They are expected to provide answers to the numerous questions related to the causes of the incident.

Lawyer Radieva also commented on the general framework of safety for such water attractions. She recalled that there is a clear regulatory framework that assigns responsibility for customer safety to the tenants and concessionaires of the beach strip. An important clarification presented in court is that, by law, the crew of the boat towing the parasail should have consisted of a captain and a parasailing instructor. In this specific case, however, such an instructor was missing, which raises additional questions about compliance with regulations.

According to the lawyer, the control of such attractions has always been enhanced, but the tragedy still occurred, which highlights the need for even stricter measures and checks to prevent such fatal events in the future.