A 19-year-old influencer unbuckled her parasailing harness mid-flight and plunged nearly 50 metres (about 164ft) into the Adriatic Sea, in what witnesses said may have been a panic attack. Tijana Radonjic died in Budva, Montenegro, on 28 May.

Eyewitnesses heard the Serbian teenager scream, 'Get me down, get me down,' and others heard her shout 'help me' before she undid her harness. Footage showed her calm at first, but she began tugging at her life jacket once airborne.

Panic attacks are common, with up to 11 per cent of people in the United States experiencing one each year, according to Cleveland Clinic. They can strike suddenly, even in non-threatening situations.

Signs of Sudden Panic

A camera mounted on her equipment captured her visible distress, showing her gasping for air and struggling with the gear before she fell. Difficulty breathing is among the physical symptoms of a panic attack.

Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear that can occur unexpectedly or in response to a stressful situation. Although people sometimes use the term 'anxiety attack', it is not a formal medical diagnosis, and there is no universally accepted clinical distinction between the two terms.

Radonjic, originally from Novi Sad, Serbia, had no prior parasailing experience. She reportedly accepted a free flight in exchange for appearing in a summer tourism video.

The company owner, Mirko Krdzic, said she was cheerful and showed no fear of heights or flying beforehand. He said: 'I guess she didn't do it consciously, but in a moment of uncontrollable fear.'

Some accounts suggest she may have thought something was wrong with the equipment and may have been unaware of her height. No diagnosis has been reported, and the panic attack remains unconfirmed pending the investigation.

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How Panic Attacks Affect the Body

Symptoms include chest pain, a racing heart, difficulty breathing, trembling, chills, nausea and sweating. People may also feel intense terror, a choking sensation, fear of losing control or a sense of unreality.

Symptoms usually peak within 10 minutes and then fade, and attacks generally last five to 20 minutes. Panic attacks by themselves are not dangerous to a person's health.

Although panic attacks are not usually physically harmful in themselves, the circumstances in which they occur can create serious risks. In Radonjic's case, her reported distress occurred while she was suspended high above the sea.

Investigation and Family Response

An autopsy found that Radonjic died from drowning and respiratory failure after suffering a ruptured lung and other chest injuries in the fall. The injuries were attributed to the impact with the sea surface.

In February 2026, the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Kotor dismissed criminal charges against the parasailing operator and crew, saying there was insufficient evidence of criminal responsibility. However, in March 2026, the Higher State Prosecutor's Office accepted the family's appeal and returned the case to the Kotor office for a new decision.

Her family rejected any suggestion that she deliberately took her own life. Her parents, Branka and Goran, said: 'We will never come to terms with this, nor accept that you are gone. You will remain in our hearts forever.'

Treatment and Warning Signs

Psychotherapy, medication or both are very effective for panic attacks and panic disorder. Cognitive behavioural therapy helps identify triggers so a person can change thinking, behaviours and reactions.

During an attack, slow, deep breathing, acknowledging it is temporary, relaxing muscles and practising mindfulness are recommended. People with chest pain, trouble breathing or loss of consciousness should seek emergency care.

To help someone having an attack, stay with them and remain calm, speak in short, simple sentences and reassure them that they are safe and the attack will pass. Symptoms lasting longer than 15 minutes warrant medical advice.

A doctor can give an official diagnosis and rule out physical causes such as heart or thyroid disease. Without treatment, panic disorder may decrease quality of life.

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