Victims identified in parasailing accident at Ocean Isle Beach - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC

Reported by Lynda Figueredo - bio|email
Posted by Debra Worley - email
Updated by Laura Sinacori - email

OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC (WECT) -  Officials have identified 56-year-old Lorrie Shoup from Granby, Colorado and 60-year-old Cynthia Collins Woodcock of Kernersville, North Carolina as the two women who died in a parasailing accident Friday afternoon at Ocean Isle Beach.

Officials said they received a call around 2:00 Friday evening in regards to an Ocean Isle Beach water sports boat in distress.

According to witnesses, the wind picked up, so the captain shifted into full throttle in effort to move the parachutes safely away from the shoreline.  They said that's when the cables snapped and the parachutes were pulled into an under draft and were caught under a pier. 

Coast Guards said the women were killed when a rope connecting the parasail to the boat disconnected.

According to First Alert Meteorologist Robb Ellis, a small craft advisory was issued Thursday and was still in place during the incident.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, the Coast Guard, and the Ocean Isle Beach Police Department are investigating the accident.

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