A Florida Keys boat captain already facing a state manslaughter charge in connection with a 2022 parasailing incident that left a woman dead is now facing a federal manslaughter charge.
Daniel Gavin Couch, 52, is facing one count of seaman’s manslaughter after a federal grand jury indicted him, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida said Monday.
Couch was previously arrested on a manslaughter charge in Monroe County in September of 2022.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Daniel Gavin Couch
The victim, 33-year-old Supraja Alaparthi, was parasailing with her 10-year-old son and 9-year-old nephew back on May 30, 2022, when the winds picked up and slammed them into the old Seven Mile Bridge west of Marathon, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said.
With the parasail pegged, the captain cut the line tethered to the three victims, an FWC report said. They were dropped from an unknown height and were dragged through the surface of the water until the parasail collided with the bridge.
An arrest warrant said Couch and a crew member had tried to bring Alaparthi and the two kids down with the winch but couldn’t due to the strong winds.
The warrant said after the impact, the parasail was draped over the top of the bridge with all three hanging from the bridge and Alaparthi submerged in the water.
Haggard Law Firm
Haggard Law Firm Supraja Alaparthi
A good Samaritan in another boat responded and was the first to give assistance, cutting all three from their harnesses and placing them on their boat, the warrant said.
The warrant said video footage taken by Alaparthi before the incident showed Couch was aware of the adverse weather conditions, when he remarked that the waves were white capping and the clouds were too big.
According to the federal indictment, Couch “engaged in misconduct, negligence, or inattention to his duties as captain, causing the death of a passenger.”
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
His state case is still pending, with a hearing scheduled for next month.
In June of 2022, the family of Alaparthi filed a wrongful death lawsuit on her behalf against the parasailing company.
Attorneys with the Haggard law firm in Coral Gables, which is representing the family, released photos that were taken by the family and that they claim show unsafe weather conditions right after the family went into the air.
The suit claims the company was negligent for failing to check the weather and for operating in unsafe weather conditions.
Pedro Echarte, an attorney with the Haggard law firm, said Alaparthi’s family supports the new federal charge.
“On behalf of the family, I can tell you that not only are they relieved, but they truly hope that this does send a message to those that own, operate, or are any way involved with these type of water activities, if you are not careful, if you do not follow the law, if you are not ensuring the safety of your passengers and the tourists that you are going to be held liable both on the civil and the criminal end,” Echarte said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
