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Teen Taken Off Life Support After Parasail Crash

17-Year-Old Released From Hospital; 15-Year-Old Sister Dies

POSTED: Monday, August 20, 2007
UPDATED: 3:57 pm EDT August 22, 2007

A 15-year-old girl has been taken off life support three days after suffering serious injuries in a parasailing accident.

According to the Medical Examiner's Office, Amber White (shown left in photo) was officially pronounced dead at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19. The family requested to donate her organs, and for that reason, her body remained on life support until Tuesday.

Her sister, Crystal, 17, who was also injured, was released Monday from North Broward Medical Center.

Broward Sheriff's Office Marine Unit investigators said the accident occurred when a 28-foot boat owned by the Palm Beach Gardens company Island Waves Parasail was pulling the girls on a parasail Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. According to the boat captain, the winds suddenly increased from 15 to approximately 40 miles an hour. Due to weather conditions, the hydraulic winch was no longer strong enough to bring down the parachute and the wind pulled the boat to shore, where Amber and Crystal remained suspended over the beach for appoximately two minutes, according to BSO.

The parachute then began to spin out of control and the line broke sending the teens onto the roof of the Beachcomber Hotel and Villas and through several trees in the courtyard where they were found dangling in the area.

Crystal suffered cuts and bruises, but Amber's injuries were more severe.

The captain may face charges in the accident, but BSO Marine and U.S Coast Guard is investigating.

The two were vacationing in the area from Ocala.

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