Benidorm police launch manslaughter probe after British tourist dies in freak parasailing accident

Spanish police have launched a manslaughter investigation into the freak death of a British tourist after a storm hit Benidorm during her parasailing trip. Beverley White, aged 66, had been on a parasailing ride with a man in the Costa Blanca tourism hotspot in August when an unexpected storm swept across the coast, tragically ending her life.

A sudden storm turns parasailing trip into a tragedy

The incident occurred on August 10, 2026 at around 6:00pm, in Rincon de Loix, Benidorm. According to reports, the parachute cord connecting Beverley to the boat that was guiding her snapped during the severe weather event. She and the man accompanying her, a 47-year-old British national, plummeted to the sea, but the high winds dragged them towards rocks in the water.

Rescue efforts and medical emergency as Brit suffers heart attack

A speedboat raced towards them and managed to retrieve them, but Beverley suffered a heart attack. When the boat made it back to land, paramedics treated her, and shortly after, she was rushed to the nearby Villajoyosa Hospital, but doctors were unfortunately unable to save her.

The man parasailing with her suffered serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

Spanish police launch manslaughter probe: ‘cover-up’ suspected

Now, Spanish officials have revealed that a manslaughter investigation was launched regarding the tragedy. According to the police, an alleged cover-up is also being investigated, having to do with a dispute over who was controlling the speedboat.

According to a spokesperson for the Alicante faction of the Guardia Civil, “During the investigation, detectives analysed the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the conditions at the time, as the weather was deteriorating with a storm and strong gusts of wind.”

Person steering boat allegedly not listed as crew at the time of the accident

“Initially, a person linked to the company responsible for the activity identified himself to the officers as the boat’s skipper. However, he later acknowledged that he was not the person in command at the time of the accident and identified another employee as responsible, with the investigation determining that it was the latter who was operating the boat.”

The spokesperson stated that the second man had the necessary qualifications to operate the speedboat, but he was actually not listed as crew with the company at the time of the August 10 accident.

Possible charges of concealment and manslaughter for two suspects

“As a result of the probe, two people are under investigation, one of them for the alleged offences of manslaughter and wounding and the second for an alleged offence of concealment.”

These two men have not been arrested, but they are expected to be summoned for questioning by a Benidorm court.