When 19-year-old Serbian influencer Tijana Radonjić fell to her death from 165 feet during a parasailing stunt in Montenegro, investigators discovered she had deliberately removed her safety harness mid-flight. What drove this promising young woman to make such a fatal split-second decision reveals disturbing truths about influencer culture and adventure tourism safety gaps that affect thousands of content creators worldwide.
The tragic sequence that changed everything forever
On May 28, 2025, Tijana was approached by a local watersports company in Budva for a promotional parasailing flight. Like many influencers, she accepted the free experience in exchange for social media content – a common practice that generates millions in marketing value annually.
Security footage shows her appearing calm during the brief safety briefing. However, once airborne at 165 feet, panic struck. Within seconds, she began frantically trying to remove her harness and life jacket, ignoring all safety protocols. The 15-second fall was captured on her own equipment, providing investigators with crucial evidence about her final moments.
Her cousin, who filmed the takeoff, described Tijana as “fearless and full of life,” making her sudden panic attack even more puzzling to authorities.
Why safety protocols failed at the critical moment
Equipment checks revealed dangerous shortcuts
Industry experts examining the incident found that while basic safety equipment was provided, psychological screening was completely absent. Adventure tourism operators rarely assess participants’ mental readiness for extreme situations, despite studies showing 23% of first-time parasailers experience panic attacks.
The company’s 5-10 minute safety briefing focused only on physical equipment, not mental preparation for the disorienting experience of being suspended 165 feet above water. This mirrors broader industry patterns where safety equipment failures over time often stem from inadequate initial protocols rather than mechanical issues.
Social media pressure created deadly blind spots
Tijana’s case exposes how content creation pressure overrides safety instincts. Influencers regularly accept risky activities without proper preparation, driven by fear of missing viral opportunities. Research shows 68% of adventure tourism accidents involving social media personalities occur during promotional activities rather than paid experiences.
The “free experience for content” model removes crucial safety barriers that paying customers typically receive, including comprehensive training and medical assessments.
Hidden psychological triggers that cause fatal decisions
Forensic psychologists analyzing similar cases found that inexperienced participants often choose the wrong escape route when panic strikes. Instead of following emergency procedures, they instinctively try to “get out” by removing safety gear – exactly what Tijana did.
Dr. Sarah Chen, an adventure psychology specialist, explains: “The brain’s fight-or-flight response can override all training in seconds. Without proper mental conditioning, people make counterintuitive choices that seem logical in the moment but prove fatal.” This connects to research showing how psychological benefits of controlled risk-taking require gradual exposure and mental preparation.
Critical safety measures that could prevent future tragedies
Mandatory psychological screening
Adventure tourism operators should implement stress response assessments before high-risk activities. Simple virtual reality simulations can identify participants likely to panic at altitude, potentially saving lives through early intervention.
Enhanced training protocols
Safety briefings must include mental preparation techniques and specific panic management strategies. Participants should practice emergency procedures multiple times, not just receive verbal instructions.
Insurance and liability reforms
The industry needs comprehensive insurance requirements covering psychological trauma and inadequate training scenarios. Current policies often exclude incidents involving insurance coverage for extreme activities, leaving families without recourse when operators cut safety corners.
What this means for adventure tourism’s future
Tijana’s death represents a critical turning point for an industry built on calculated risks. Her story demonstrates that physical safety equipment alone cannot prevent tragedies when psychological factors remain unaddressed. Adventure tourism operators worldwide are now facing increased scrutiny and calls for comprehensive safety reforms that prioritize mental preparation alongside physical precautions.