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Medical Examiner: Parasailer Died From Drowning, Blunt Trauma

POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) — The 28-year-old tourist from Connecticut who fell to her death on Aug. 15 while parasailing with her husband died from drowning and blunt trauma, according to Broward's Office of the Medical Examiner.

CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald reports the cause of death was reported as "asphyxia due to drowning and multiple blunt force injuries,'' and her manner of death was ruled an accident.

Kathleen Miskell and her husband Stephen, who had been married for nearly three years, were on vacation and decided to take an afternoon parasail ride offered by WaveBlast Water Sports, which operates out of the Sands Harbor Hotel.

The Miskells were in a side-by-side parasail when Kathleen Miskell's harness malfunctioned, falling about 200 feet into the Atlantic Ocean.

After reeling Stephen Miskell safely in, the boat went to where Kathleen Miskell lay face down in the water.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Broward Sheriff's Office and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating what caused the accident.

Kathleen Miskell, a teacher's aide in Connecticut, was an active member of the Irish American Home Society and an accomplished Irish step dancer.

Maureen Kennedy, the vice president of the society, said the tight-knit community has come together to support the Miskells. The group help raised money to pay for Stephen Miskell's immediate family to travel from Ireland to Connecticut for the service.

Kathleen will be remembered at a wake Friday in Wethersfield and at a funeral Saturday at the Miskells home parish in East Hartford.

Donations to help the Miskells can be sent to the Irish American Home Society, 132 Commerce St., Glastonbury, Conn. 06033 c/o Stephen Miskell.

RELATED:

NTSB To Investigate Tourist Parasailing Death

Family Mourns Loss Of Woman Killed In Parasailing Accident

Woman Dies After Parasailing Accident Off Pompano Beach

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report.)

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