The Fatal 150-Foot Plunge: Unpacking The Tragedy Of The 19-Year-Old Who Unbuckled Her Parasailing Harness

The tragic and shocking death of a 19-year-old Serbian model during a parasailing session in Montenegro remains a haunting case study in extreme sports safety and the unpredictable nature of panic attacks. The incident, which occurred in the coastal town of Budva, involved the young woman allegedly unbuckling her safety harness while suspended nearly 150 feet in the air, resulting in a fatal fall into the Adriatic Sea. As of December 23, 2025, the details surrounding the victim’s final moments and the subsequent investigation continue to serve as a critical warning for adventure tourism operators globally. This in-depth report revisits the circumstances of the tragedy, examining the victim's profile, the suspected role of a mid-air panic attack, and the crucial safety lessons that must be learned from such a devastating event. The case highlights the often-overlooked psychological factors in high-altitude activities and the need for stringent operator protocols to prevent future disasters.

Biography of Tijana Radonjic and the Montenegro Tragedy

The victim at the center of this tragedy was Tijana Radonjic, a promising 19-year-old model from Serbia. Her life, which was just beginning to flourish in the world of fashion and social media, was cut short in a horrifying accident that drew global attention to the risks of adventure tourism.

• Name: Tijana Radonjic
• Age at Death: 19 years old
• Nationality: Serbian
• Profession: Model and Student
• Location of Incident: Budva, Montenegro (Adriatic Sea coast)
• Date of Incident: Reports indicate the incident occurred during the peak summer tourist season, with initial news breaking in 2024, though a precise date is not widely reported.
• Activity: Parasailing (Paragliding/Parascending)
• Alleged Cause of Death: Plunge after unbuckling her safety harness mid-air, reportedly due to a severe panic attack.
• Height of Fall: Estimated between 50 meters (160 feet) and 150 feet.
• Circumstances: She was reportedly participating in a promotional video shoot for a local parasailing company.

Tijana was on vacation in the popular tourist hotspot of Budva, a coastal town known for its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife. Her death sent shockwaves through the local community and the Serbian media. Her family, identified in reports only by her father, Goran R., confirmed the devastating accident. The incident was particularly disturbing as it was partially captured on video, showing her frantic movements moments before the fall.

The Unpredictable Role of a Mid-Air Panic Attack

The core and most unsettling detail of the investigation centers on the allegation that Tijana Radonjic unbuckled her own harness. Multiple eyewitness accounts and local reports suggest she experienced a sudden, debilitating panic attack while being lifted higher into the sky. A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger. Symptoms can include a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a terrifying feeling of losing control or impending doom. In the context of being suspended high above the water, this psychological phenomenon can be catastrophic.

• The Fear Response: Witnesses reported hearing Tijana screaming, allegedly yelling, "Put me down!" as the parasail ascended. This is a classic "fight or flight" response, but with no ability to fight or flee, the mind may seek a desperate, irrational solution.
• The Harness as a Constraint: For a person suffering a severe panic attack, the safety harness, designed to be a lifeline, can be perceived as a painful, suffocating constraint. The irrational impulse is to remove the source of the perceived entrapment.
• The Height Factor: Falling from an estimated 150 feet (approximately 50 meters) left no chance of survival. The impact with the water at that velocity is comparable to hitting concrete.

The incident raises profound questions about the psychological screening of participants in extreme sports. While operators typically focus on physical fitness and equipment checks, the mental preparedness and potential for acute anxiety are often overlooked. This case serves as a grim reminder that psychological safety is just as critical as mechanical safety in adventure tourism.

Critical Safety Lessons for Parasailing Operators and Tourists

The tragic loss of Tijana Radonjic has led to renewed calls for stricter safety protocols within the adventure tourism industry, particularly in popular European tourist destinations like Montenegro. The focus has shifted beyond equipment failure to include human factors.

Enhanced Pre-Flight Screening and Briefings

Operators must implement a more thorough pre-flight process. This includes:

Detailed Psychological Screening: A simple verbal check for severe fear of heights (acrophobia) or claustrophobia is insufficient. Operators should ask specific, non-judgmental questions about previous panic attack history or high-anxiety situations. This helps identify individuals at high risk of a panic-induced reaction.

Clear Emergency Protocols: Briefings should explicitly cover what to do in a state of panic. Instead of simply saying "don't unbuckle," operators should explain that the harness is the *only* thing keeping them safe and that the flight can be aborted quickly if distress is signaled. Clear, simple hand signals for "panic" or "lower me" should be established and practiced.

Harness Design and Operator Training

The design of the harness itself and the training of the crew are vital entities in preventing a repeat of this scenario.

Fail-Safe Harness Systems: The incident has sparked debate over whether harnesses should incorporate a secondary, non-releasable safety strap or a more complex buckle system that requires two hands and a deliberate action to release, making an accidental or panic-induced release more difficult. The goal is to prevent a panicked individual from easily undoing their restraint.

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Crew Communication: The parasailing crew on the boat must be trained to recognize and respond immediately to signs of distress, such as screaming or frantic movements, and to initiate an emergency descent procedure without hesitation. Rapid descent can be the difference between a tragic fall and a safe (though scary) return to the boat.

Regulation and Investigation Status

Following the tragedy, local authorities in Budva, Montenegro, launched an investigation into the parasailing operator. The investigation aimed to determine if there were any breaches of safety regulations, equipment faults, or negligence that may have contributed to the panic or the ease of unbuckling the harness. While initial reports confirmed the death and the ongoing investigation, the final legal conclusions and punitive measures taken against the operator have not been widely publicized in international media, leaving the ultimate accountability of the parasailing firm in question. The case of Tijana Radonjic is a stark, unforgettable lesson in the potential dangers of extreme activities. It underscores that for every participant, the internal psychological environment is as important as the external physical safety equipment. For the adventure tourism industry, this tragedy serves as a permanent call to action to prioritize comprehensive safety—both physical and mental—to ensure no other life is lost in such a preventable and heartbreaking manner.

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