Roger Hussey, 70, fell 100ft to his death in Phuket, Thailand, yesterday afternoon while dozens of people watched.
He was taken to Patong Hospital but was pronounced dead soon after arrival at around 2pm local time.
The operator of the boat that was pulling him and the man with him on the parasail have both been arrested and charged with recklessness leading to death.
They allegedly told police that he had accidentally pulled a hook that unstrapped his harness, causing him to fall into the sea.
His wife released the footage to the media. Lt. Col. Suwisit Keereerak, Deputy Chief Inspector of Karon Police Station, said they were now investigating the accident.
The two staff who were charged were named as the parasilor Rungroj Rakscheep, 38, and Montien Chandeng, 45, the boat captain.
Officers said Mr Hussey had ‘red marks on his body’ from when he is believed to have hit the water. A post mortem examination is taking place to establish the cause of death.
The Australian pensioner killed while parasailing was just 12 days into a dream holiday with his Thai wife, police said.
He had arrived in Thailand on July 1 and visited Chiang Mai in the north then travelled to Phuket island in the south of the country with partner Budsabong Thongsangka.
She watched in horror and screamed as he fell from the water sports attraction in footage that police are using in their investigation and she supplied to the media.
Lt Col Suwisit Keereerak said: ‘Roger John Hussey was on holiday with his Thai wife, she recored him and we’re looking at the video to see how this happened.
‘He was seriously injured in the water and died later. We’re still investigating what caused him to die, why he came loose from the parasail, and who is to blame.
‘Roger had asked to go on the parasail while he was on the beach. He went up to a height of 70 metres.
‘We think he was unconscious in the sea when he fell and died later.
‘The operators have been charged with negligence and we’re checking their paperwork and credentials to operate the parasail and boat.
‘They were responsible for checking the safety equipment.’
Man Falls from the Sky because of a poorly attached Parachute… pic.twitter.com/hCH5NgVriD
— Human Nature (@Human101Nature) May 8, 2023