As beachgoers screamed in shock when the rope connecting two British paragliders to a speedboat snapped in a sudden storm yesterday, all Anthony Nisbet could think about was how he and his sister could land safely.

Luckily, he and his sister Grace escaped with bruises and scratches after a freak storm ripped the rope of their parasail and sent them hurtling into a field of prickly bushes across from Għadira bay.

Watching the dramatic incident unfold on video, the jaw of the 20-year-old man and his 17-year-old sister dropped as they saw the water spout whip the parasail and heard peoples’ screams as the rope detached from the boat.

“We didn’t immediately fully realise the danger when we were up there… Then the rope snapped and I kept shouting to my sister to try to land on her feet,” Mr Nisbet told The Sunday Times of Malta.

It was the most dramatic moment during a short freak storm that produced a dramatic water spout, creating moments of panic among those at sea.

Sitting at Mater Dei Hospital’s cafeteria with his sister and parents, Bridget and Mario, after he was discharged, Mr Nisbet said everything happened so quickly they did not have time to think that they could be plummeting to their death.

Anthony and Grace Nisbet after yesterday’s ordeal.

When laughter turned to panic

The Lancashire family, who are regular visitors to the island, have been holidaying at the Seabank Hotel in Mellieħa since last Tuesday, and they have nothing but words of praise for everybody involved.

The siblings’ grandfather wanted to treat them so he booked them for parasailing with Oh Yeah Watersports at noon.

The skies were a clear blue with a few white low lying clouds when they set out on what was supposed to be a 12-minute adventure. Suddenly, a freak storm hit the popular bay with strong winds whipping up huge waves and shaking the parachute violently.

The rope snapped and I kept shouting to my sister to try to land on her feet

The video, captured by bystanders, showed the two youngsters being roughly jolted around by the wind, as the parachute dragged the boat below to the shore, causing it to list.

“We were more concerned about the people on the boat below, than about ourselves. I guess we never dreamt the rope would detach and we’d go flying,” Ms Nisbet said.

Her brother added: “We were actually joking around, recalling the scene from Jurassic Park III when the parasail disconnects from the boat.”

But the laughter soon turned to panic when the rope suddenly snapped, and onlookers screamed in despair convinced the youngsters were going to be blown to their death.

At that moment, their father was on the other end of the beach at Tunny Net, trying to watch Anthony and Grace through his binoculars. He recalled how surreal it was to see his children being shaken by the winds, as his wife prayed they would steer clear of the overhead electricity wires.

“We’re all laughing in relief now, but it could have all ended so badly,” Mrs Nisbet said.

When the siblings landed in a field, dazed and confused, they were quickly helped by numerous beachgoers who unhooked them and led them to safety.

“We just want to let everybody who helped us know that we’re fine. We’re very grateful for all those who came forward,” they said, adding they will not be attempting parasailing any time soon.

The unusual storm took everyone by surprise yesterday.

Kristina Chetcuti, who was caught in the storm on a rigid-inflatable boat, compared the experience to the film The Perfect Storm, with huge waves, rain and lightning.

“In the distance we saw a sailing boat sink – luckily there was a cruiser nearby who picked up the boaters. At one point I was giving my daughter instructions on what to do if the boat capsized. Had the storm picked up more, it easily could have happened,” she added.

Meanwhile, a Ħamrun feast enthusiast said the storm caused damage to some feast decorations, reviving memories of a similar storm that had taken place in the late 1940s. But nothing was going to dampen the festive spirit and the St Gatean Band Club said the feast would go ahead as planned.

A spokesman for Met Office said it had been expecting to see the tail-end of the storm, possibly with showers, but it became much worse after finding a warm patch of sea. Heavy showers, thunder, strong winds and water spouts then ensued.

“Around the Santa Marija feast this is not totally unexpected because high pressure from the Atlantic starts collapsing and low pressure starts moving closer,” the spokesman said.

Meanwhile the Met Office said that the unstable weather is expected to persist today.