52-year-old Daniel Gavin Couch has been charged with seaman’s manslaughter. As captain of the M/V AIRBORNE, a vessel inspected by the Coast Guard for parasailing activities in Monroe County, Florida, Couch was appointed by Lighthouse Parasail, Inc. The indictment alleges that on May 30, 2022, Couch was negligent or inattentive in his duties, which directly resulted in a passenger’s death.
If convicted, Couch faces up to 10 years in federal prison, as stated by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O'Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Josh W. Packer, Special Agent in Charge of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Southeast Field Office. The investigation was conducted by the CGIS Southeast Field Office, with assistance from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Lake Worth and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Office of Law Enforcement, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller and Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl. At this stage, the indictment contains only allegations, and Couch is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Additional documents and case details are available on the District Court for the Southern District of Florida’s website or through the PACER system, under case number 24-CR-10036.
