Families of Teens in Parasailing Accident 'See More Progress'
The families of parasailing victims say teens are walking, nodding.
July 4, 2013— -- The families of two Indiana teens whose parasail detached from a boat and flung them into a Florida highrise said the girls are doing better.
"Our daughters, Sidney Good and Alexis Fairchild, are still at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, Florida, recovering from a parasailing accident on July 1; however we have seen more progress from yesterday," the families said in a joint statement released on July 4.
Fairchild and Good, both 17, were parasailing just off the coast of Panama City when their parasail broke loose and slammed them into a nearby condominium. Strong winds sent them into power lines and several cars in a parking lot.
Read more about two teenagers critically injured in horrific parasailing accident
The girls were taken to Bay Medical Center in critical condition, but their families say they are slowly doing better.
"Alexis was able to walk today with a walker and the assistance of a physical therapist and she walked into Sidney's room to visit. Sidney is still in critical condition, but we are seeing small signs of progress. She is able to open one of her eyes and communicate to us with nods and gestures," the statement continued.
The parasailing accident has brought to light an industry that has suprisingly little regulation. Since 1998 there have been 33 parasailing accidents in Florida alone. Six resulted in fatalities.The company that owned the boat involved in Monday's incident, Aquatic Adventures, helped block Florida state legislation in May that would have put new safety standards in place, ABC News previously reported.
The families have set up a fund to raise money for their daughters' medical expenses, according to the statement.
Aquatic Adventures, in a statement, said, "The events of July 1, 2013 were tragic. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the injured girls and we all pray for their speedy recovery.
"While we adhere to best practices to minimize the risks associated with watersport activities, sudden weather conditions can and do occur. As a full investigation in on going, we are unable to comment further at this time."