Credit: @tijanaa.radonjic/Instagram
Influencer, 19, Plunges To Death After ‘Unfastening Harness During Panic Attack’ On Parasail
A teenage influencer has tragically died after allegedly unbuckling her safety harness while 50 metres up in the air.
Model Tijana Radonjic, 19, plunged to her death in front of horrified beachgoers last week while filming a promotional video for a parasailing firm in Montenegro.
She is thought to have suffered a panic attack, with witnesses reportedly hearing her screaming, ‘Put me down,’ and ‘Help me’ in the moments before she fell.
Distressing footage appears to show the bikini-clad teen frantically freeing herself from safety equipment while soaring above the Adriatic Sea.
She attempts to pull herself up on the parasail, before unbuckling a belt around her waist.
She then unzips her jacket, and unties another strap, before tipping upside down.
The last clip of Tijana shows her falling through the parasail’s leg braces, then out of sight.
Police are now investigating the death of the influencer, who had been holidaying in the town of Budva with her aunt at the time. Paramedics say they believe the fall from a height killed her.
According to the Daily Mirror, Tijana had been hired for the promotional film, which aimed to attract tourists to the region, despite having no previous parasailing experience.
She was told she could fly for free in exchange for participating in the commercial.
The model, from Novi Sad, Serbia, reportedly looked calm and ‘cheerful’ as she was strapped into her harness and told how to use the safety equipment before the flight.
She even waved to her aunt as she took off, the local news outlet Republika reports.
But once in the air, the unimaginable happened.
Shortly after, spectators who had seen Tijana joyfully take off into the sky watched in horror as the speedboat, which had been towing the influencer’s parasail, returned without her.
Tijana, also a student, was pulled from the sea and declared dead.
“We are all in shock after the accident that happened… I do not know exactly what happened,” said Mirko Krdzic, the owner of the parasailing firm.
“She did not show any fear of flying, she underwent training, after which the tragedy followed.
“Technical inspections of all the equipment are underway, and the results of the autopsy are awaited.”
Mr Krdzic added that he hopes to ‘express my condolences in person’ to Tijana’s family, who do not accept that the teen untied herself from the equipment.
In a heartbreaking tribute to Tijana, her devastated parents, Branka and Goran, said: “We will never come to terms with this, nor accept that you are gone.
“You will remain in our hearts forever.”
They added that they would miss their daughter ‘forever,’ the Daily Mail reports.
While Tijana is thought to have suffered a panic attack – becoming a victim of ‘uncontrollable fear’ – social media users have questioned the cause of her fall.
“I think something was hurting her in the seat or biting her and she was trying to adjust herself and fell,” said one TikTok user.
Some have suggested the rope between the parasail and the boat could have broken.
“She panicked and thought falling into the water was the safest option,” alleged a second user.
While an attempt by Tijana to take her own life hasn’t been ruled out, her family have rejected this.
Whatever the cause of her fatal plunge, it is clear Tijana will be greatly missed.
One grieving friend reflected: “She was full of life, always smiling.”
Another said: “If I could choose who to spend my childhood with, I would choose you again.”
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