Nineteen-year-old Tijana Radonjic was on vacation in Montenegro when she fell to her death during a parasailing flight in Budva. Reports say that the young woman, originally from Novi Sad, Serbia, had no prior parasailing experience and was participating in a promotional video shoot for a tourism campaign along the Budva Riviera.
Radonjic reportedly accepted a free parasailing flight in exchange for appearing in the video. Footage released by local media showed her calm and composed as she was strapped into her harness. But moments after taking off, things took a horrifying turn, and the footage of her death has gone viral.
According to a report, Radonjic reportedly became distressed mid-flight while she tugged at her life jacket and struggled with her harness. Witnesses reported hearing her scream, “Get me down, get me down,” and “Help me,” before she managed to unclip her waist belt and harness. She then tumbled upside down and disappeared from view, falling approximately 164 feet into the Adriatic Sea.
Emergency services responded quickly. Her body was retrieved from the water, and she was pronounced dead shortly after. Mirko Krdzic, head of the parasailing company, explained that before Radonjic went up in the air, she had completed basic training.
“She was cheerful and in a good mood before the flight,” he said, adding that there were no signs of her being fearful. He also stated that while the reason behind her actions of unbuckling the belt and allegedly jumping is unknown, it may have been influenced by the sudden feeling of uncontrollable fear.
Some reports have suggested that Radonjic may have suffered a panic attack mid-air, possibly believing something was wrong with the equipment. Her family has strongly rejected any notion that she intentionally harmed herself. In a heartfelt message, her parents, Branka and Goran, said, “We will never come to terms with this… Now you are one of the angels.”
Authorities in Montenegro have launched an investigation. Technical inspections of the parasailing equipment are underway, and the results of the autopsy are still pending.