Cousins killed in parasailing horror plunge
Teens fell 400ft when rope snapped
REVISING for her exams in the Greek sunshine, this is Jessica Hayes just days before she and her cousin were killed in a parasailing accident in Rhodes.
The 15-year-old and Michael Connelly, 13, died when they fell 400ft on to rocks after the rope pulling them snapped in a storm.
Michael’s brother James, 15, was seriously hurt and is in a coma in hospital.
In a heartbreaking interview yesterday, Jessica’s father Tony Hayes, 38, said: ‘One minute the sun was shining, we’re sitting at the beach waving them off, and the next it was chaos.
‘They’ve been stolen from us and we’re devastated. We’re doing terribly. It’s like the world’s come to an end.’
It was initially thought a sudden storm was to blame for the tragedy in the resort of Lindos. But the focus of the investigation has since turned to Nikos Mallios, 51, who owns the water sports firm used by the family.
Mallios, a seasoned boat skipper, was arrested hours after the tragedy on suspicion of manslaughter and appeared before prosecutors yesterday. He has been released without charge.
Mr Hayes said: ‘Something’s gone wrong somewhere because I’ve been reading you are only allowed two people in a paras
‘Our world’s come to an end’
ailing trip at once, but yet three of them were allowed on there.
‘Why did they allow that? We asked if they were old enough to do it and we were told anyone from three years old was allowed to do it. That’s not right.’
Mr Hayes, from Kettering in Northamptonshire, was forced to identify his daughter’s body in a mortuary on the island.
‘That was the worst part,’ he told The Sun. ‘Now we’re stuck in this hotel. Everyone around us is enjoying themselves on normal holidays. We have one nephew fighting for his life and two other children have died. We’re not doing too well.’
The three children were on a half-term holiday at the fourstar Lindos Princess Hotel with their parents when they were booked on to the parasailing trip through Watersports Lindos on Wednesday afternoon.
The company, which operates from a hut on the beach, came highly recommended because of its years of experience in operating with youngsters safely.
But when the children failed to return, Sharon Connelly, the mother of the two boys, became anxious and asked a lifeguard at the swimming pool to help find out what had happened.
The lifeguard told the Mail: ‘She was asking me, “Where are the kids? They should be back by now.” She had no idea what had taken place. No one did.
‘The company that took them out have been operating here for about 15 years. Nothing like this has ever happened before.’ Civil engineer Manolis Markoulis, 60, was working on a beachside project when he saw the children on the parasail.
He said: ‘Although the sea was a bit rough, everything seemed to be under control. They were having fun, like any child would. But then, the sky turned black and a big wind blew up. There was a sandstorm on the beach and people ran for cover.’
He said the storm appeared to converge on the boat and watched the parasail as it disappeared over the headland. Mr Markoulis added: ‘It’s a freak accident and the whole island can’t get over what happened.’
The victims were part of a close-knit family, who regularly went on holiday together.
A former neighbour of the Hayes family said last night: ‘Oh God, that’s terrible. The poor parents. Jessica used to come and sit with me. She was so bubbly, she was a lovely girl.’
A relative added: ‘It’s really devastating. We just praying at the moment – praying that things go well for James.’