COIMBATORE: A 52-year-old man was killed in Coimbatore on Sunday reportedly when he was parasailing in an open ground and the parasail wing collapsed due to technical reasons.
The victim, identified as Malleswara Rao, a resident of KTVR Residency at Peelamedu, had signed up to experience the thrill of parasailing in the event organised to celebrate the golden jubilee of Coimbatore Medical College (CMC), one of the renowned government medical colleges in the state.
The event was organised at CODISSIA grounds in the city on Sunday and the parasailing was organised jointly by the Indian Aero Sports and Science Club as a recreation.
Around noon, Malleswara Rao is said to have taken parasailing amidst heavy winds. For reasons not clear yet, the parasail wing, which was being towed by a vehicle on the ground, collapsed and Malleshwara Rao fell on the ground. Sources said he had suffered severe injuries on legs and hip.
He was rushed to the nearby Kovai Medical Center and Hospital. But doctors declared him dead on arrival. Further investigations are on.
A video of the accident suggests that the victim fell on the ground from a height of few meters when the safety belt snapped.
Meanwhile, the Coimbatore Medical College officials said they had called off the parasailing event on Sunday and it was the aero sport club that unilaterally conducted the event on Sunday.
Hence they have no connection with the accident. However, an earlier press release from the hospital had said that the parasailing will be organised until Sunday in view of the jubilee celebrations.