Model, 19, plummets to her death after unfastening harness during 'panic attack'
A model died after she was hired to promote a parasailing company - she is believed to have fallen 50 metres to her death after undoing her safety harnesses during a panic attack
The grim moment a teen model plunged to her death was caught in chilling footage. Images show Tijana Radonjic, 19, during filming for a promotional video for a parasailing firm falling after she appeared to unfasten her harness during a panic attack.
Tijana, from Novi Sad in Serbia, was hired for the short film on May 28. She had no previous experience of parasailing.
The unnamed firm in Budva, Montenegro, hoped the film would boost business with tourists ahead of a busy summer holiday season. Tijana was supposed to appear clad in a bikini and flying happily over the Budva Riviera, all while her parasail was towed by a speedboat.
In the startling footage, the model appears to undergo a panic attack, depsite looking calm and happy as she was strapped into her harness and told how to use it, witnesses said. At 150 feet above the Adriatic sea, Tijana started to tear at her life jacket and safety harness, unfastening it. After undoing her waist belt, she started to try and wriggle free.
Witnesses on the beach said they heard her screaming 'put me down, put me down' just moments before she fell around 50 metres.
The fall is believed to have killed her, paramedics said after she was pulled from the sea. Mirko Krdzic, the owner of the parasailing company, said he was 'sorry' for the death of Tijana and hopes to meet her parents to 'express my condolences in person'.
He said: "We are all in shock after the accident that happened… I do not know exactly what happened.
"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."
Tijana's family is disputing claims she caused her own death, reports say. One relative said in a post on social media: "You were brave to try to save your young life, but unfortunately, you didn't succeed." The incident is being investigated by police and safety officials.
Budva is known for its popularity with tourists and bustling nightlife within its Venetian-built stone walls. Montenegro's tourist board says it is a 'metropolis of Montenegrin tourism and one of the loudest and most packed towns at the Montenegrin coast during the summer'.
It compares the town to having its 'own Hawaii', a reference to the island opposite the city that has plush beaches and restaurants.
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The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Horror as influencer, 19, plunges 150ft to her death from parasail after ‘unfastening harness during panic attack'
A TEEN influencer tragically plunged to her death after she allegedly unlocked her safety belt while parasailing. Tijana Radonjic, 19, is thought to have had a panic attack and before into the sea from a great height in Montenegro. 5 5 Her body was retrieved from the water and taken to the marina before the emergency services confirmed her death. The student was holidaying in Budva, southwest of Podgorica, when she fell to her death last week. Authorities are investigating what caused her to frantically unbuckle her belt, remove her legs from the straps, and fall from the seat. It is believed she suffered a panic attack while in the air. An attempt to take her own life has not been ruled out, but loved ones say they do not believe she would do that. The victim had been posting cheerful photos of her holiday in the days leading up to the fall. Even the owner of the operating tour company Budva MK said she appeared happy before the activity. He said: 'She was cheerful and in a good mood before the flight. 'She showed no fear of heights or flying. 'Before we set off, she waved to her friends on the beach and they waved back. Watch shock moment couple cheat death as they fall off 5,000ft mountain while taking risky shortcut to avoid queue 'Everything seemed fine. 'We don't know why she unbuckled her seat belt and harness and jumped out. 'I guess she didn't do it consciously, but in a moment of uncontrollable fear.' The tour company suspects she got scared because she thought something was wrong with the equipment, adding: 'Maybe she wasn't aware of the height she was flying at.' The victim was reportedly seen pulling the cables and shouting 'help me' in the moments leading up to the fall. Her friends in her hometown of Novi Sad, near Belgrade, Serbia, paid tribute to the teen victim. One lifelong pal said: 'If I could choose who to spend my childhood with, I would choose you again.' Another friend posted: 'She was full of life, always smiling. 'She never cared about what others thought of her.' The police investigation is ongoing. 5
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Student, 19, falls to her death after 'suffering a panic attack' and 'unbuckling her seatbelt' while parasailing during holiday to Montenegro
A student has fallen to her death after she unclipped her safety belt while parasailing. Tijana Radonjic, 19, was on holiday in Budva, Montenegro, when she plunged into the Adriatic Sea after flying at a height of 50 metres. Despite emergency services rushing to find her, they confirmed she was dead last Wednesday. Footage of Ms Radnjic, from Novi Sad, Serbia, has been shared online that shows her distressed in her parasailing seat. She tries to pull herself up on the two straps on the side but then unbuckles the seatbelt and jacket. The teen then twists around in her seat before tipping upside down and falls through the leg braces. Horrified spectators on the beach are said to have heard Tijana screaming just moments before the fall: 'Put me down! Put me down!'. Local outlet Republika said others heard her shout 'help me'. The circumstances around her death remain unclear, with some local news outlets reporting that she had been filming a promotional video for a local tourist agency. Ms Radonjic had allegedly agreed to a free parasailing ride in exchange for the video to 'boost business with tourists for the summer holiday season'. The film was supposed to show Ms Radonkic in a bikini soaring happily over the Budva Riviera on a parasail being towed by a speed boat, it was reported in NewsFlash. Witnesses told local media she looked happy and relaxed as she was buckled in and told how to sit in the safety harness. But Republika have reported that she may have suffered a 'panic attack'. Another outlet has said suicide has not been ruled out, but loved ones said they do not believe she would have taken her own life. The teen's parents, Branka and Goran, shared a heartbreaking farewell ahead of her funeral today: 'We will never come to terms with this, nor accept that you are gone. 'You will remain in our hearts forever. Our bravest we love you endlessly and will be missed forever. 'Rest in peace and may the angels watch over you. Now you are one of them.' Police are investigating the death but the owner of the operating tour company said she appeared happy before the activity: 'She was cheerful and in a good mood before the flight. She showed no fear of heights or flying. 'Before we set off, she waved to her friends on the beach and they waved back. Everything seemed fine. 'We don't know why she unbuckled her seat belt and harness and jumped out. 'I guess she didn't do it consciously, but in a moment of uncontrollable fear.' He added: 'I am sorry for the death of the young girl. I hope to meet her parents to express my condolences in person. 'We are all in shock after the accident that happened.' The tour company suspects she got scared because she thought something was wrong with the equipment, adding: 'Maybe she wasn't aware of the height she was flying at.' They added: 'I do not know exactly what happened. 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.' Republika reported that she had been on holiday with her aunt when she passed away. She posted in a moving tribute online: 'I can't believe I'm writing this. 'We should now be thinking about what bathing suits to bring, where to drink coffee while the baby sleeps, what song to sing in the car. 'We should have enjoyed the sun and you said to me: "go, rest, I'll take care of the baby now." 'We should have celebrated graduation, not sent you off. 'I can still hear your laugh. I can still see how you hold my son and how you talk to him, how you laugh while he laughs.' Her friends in her hometown paid tribute to the victim, with one lifelong pal saying: 'If I could choose who to spend my childhood with, I would choose you again.' Another friend posted: 'She was full of life, always smiling. She never cared about what others thought of her.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Model, 19, plummets to her death after unfastening harness during 'panic attack'
A model died after she was hired to promote a parasailing company - she is believed to have fallen 50 metres to her death after undoing her safety harnesses during a panic attack The grim moment a teen model plunged to her death was caught in chilling footage. Images show Tijana Radonjic, 19, during filming for a promotional video for a parasailing firm falling after she appeared to unfasten her harness during a panic attack. Tijana, from Novi Sad in Serbia, was hired for the short film on May 28. She had no previous experience of parasailing. The unnamed firm in Budva, Montenegro, hoped the film would boost business with tourists ahead of a busy summer holiday season. Tijana was supposed to appear clad in a bikini and flying happily over the Budva Riviera, all while her parasail was towed by a speedboat. In the startling footage, the model appears to undergo a panic attack, depsite looking calm and happy as she was strapped into her harness and told how to use it, witnesses said. At 150 feet above the Adriatic sea, Tijana started to tear at her life jacket and safety harness, unfastening it. After undoing her waist belt, she started to try and wriggle free. Witnesses on the beach said they heard her screaming 'put me down, put me down' just moments before she fell around 50 metres. The fall is believed to have killed her, paramedics said after she was pulled from the sea. Mirko Krdzic, the owner of the parasailing company, said he was 'sorry' for the death of Tijana and hopes to meet her parents to 'express my condolences in person'. He said: "We are all in shock after the accident that happened… I do not know exactly what happened. "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." Tijana's family is disputing claims she caused her own death, reports say. One relative said in a post on social media: "You were brave to try to save your young life, but unfortunately, you didn't succeed." The incident is being investigated by police and safety officials. Budva is known for its popularity with tourists and bustling nightlife within its Venetian-built stone walls. Montenegro's tourist board says it is a 'metropolis of Montenegrin tourism and one of the loudest and most packed towns at the Montenegrin coast during the summer'. It compares the town to having its 'own Hawaii', a reference to the island opposite the city that has plush beaches and restaurants.
