The daredevil spirit of American yachtsman Frank Westendorf led to his death in a parasailing accident, his son told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

And Michael Westendorf, while clearly upset by his father's death on Friday, said the pilot of the parasailing boat should not be blamed.

"I would not want to see harm come to the pilot or owner of the boat,'' Mr.

Westendorf said hours before he left Bermuda with his stepmother Ingrid and his father's body yesterday.

Mr. Frank Westendorf, 54, from Newport News, Virginia died after he apparently grabbed on to the harness of a parasailer in St. George's Harbour and was lifted about 100 feet into the air before dropping to the sea.

A spokesman for St. George's Parasailing and Watersport said after the accident that Mr. Westendorf had been swimming off Somer's Wharf, St. George's when he grabbed the harness of a female parasailer from behind.

It was only when the parasail was in the air, that he was noticed.

The spokesman said they could not bring him down in time.

He also said Mr. Westendorf "let go of his own choice, resulting in this tragic death''.

Yesterday Mr. Westendorf's son did not dispute this.

He described the accident as an unfortunate set of events.

He maintained that the pilot of the parasailing boat -- who was arrested, questioned and released last Saturday -- was licensed and competent.

"He (the pilot) tried to get him off,'' he said. "That's why he went up and down (in the air) before he let go.'' Noting that his father had been diving before and was a licensed parachuter, pilot and water skier, Mr. Westendorf added: "He held on to a point where he was ready to let go. He knew how high he was. He was an intensively trained person. He knew what he was doing and he chose to let go at that point.'' Mr. Westendorf described his father as an avid sportsman and a bit of a daredevil.

"He was a conservative business man,'' he said. "But he balanced it with adventurous activity in his personal life.

"However he was always cautious never to put the people around him at risk,'' Mr. Westendorf added.

He said there was an unfortunate risk people took when participating in daring activities and it was a risk his father assumed.

"He was a responsible person and he assumed the risks,'' Mr. Westendorf said.

"I guess you could have considered him a stunt person due to all of his experience.'' He added that his father would often push things further than he should.

And he said: "If he was alive he would be talking to you and apologising for his actions.'' Mr. Westendorf said he met with staff of the parasailing company after giving his statement to Police on Monday night.

"It was the right thing to do,'' he asserted. "He would have wanted it this way.'' "It is important for people to heal wounds,'' he added. "I think that according to Bermudian law, the pilot of the boat is considered responsible for what happens. But this situation is unique. This was not some kids playing around who got hurt.'' Mr. Westendorf said he gave Police a statement similar to what he told The Royal Gazette and had nothing but praise for the Police Force.

Son: My father was a daredevil "I've had a positive experience with the Police,'' he said. "They are just doing their jobs and are good people. They have handled this with decorum and politeness.'' But Police spokesman P.c Gary Venning said despite Mr. Westendorf's views the investigation into his father's death will continue.

"They have to prepare a report for the coroner who will then establish the cause of death,'' P.c. Venning added.

Mr. Westendorf also told The Royal Gazette that he harboured no ill feelings toward the Island.

He said this was his father's first trip to the Island in addition to his first open water sailing excursion.

"About a month ago he made an attempt to sail here but ran into a storm,'' the son recalled. "The boat suffered some damages during the storm and he had to turn back. He only started sailing a year ago.'' The late Mr. Westendorf arrived in Bermuda on June 29 on board his green and white yacht Chardonnay which was docked in St. George's Harbour at the time of the accident.

Yesterday afternoon his body was taken to Wabasha, Minnesota where a funeral services will be held on Thursday.

His body will be cremated and his ashes flown back to Newport News, Virginia for a memorial service that will be held sometime next week. After this his ashes will be thrown from a boat into the ocean.

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