American visitor was arrested at the weekend.

And the speedboat has been impounded as part of the investigation into the accident which claimed the life of Frank Westendorf, 54, of Newport News, Virginia.

Police yesterday confirmed the speedboat driver -- who has not been named -- was arrested on Saturday, the day after the fatal accident but declined to comment further.

Mr. Westendorf died after plunging 100 feet into St. George's Harbour from a parasail.

The dead man's boat, the yacht Chardonnay , was docked at Somers Wharf in St.

George's.

Mr. Westendorf is believed to have been swimming in the harbour before the incident occurred.

A spokesman for St. George's Parasail and Watersports -- who operate the boat -- said a woman was parasailing behind it and asked to get wet.

The woman -- who was strapped into the chute properly -- was allowed to drop in to the water.

Mr. Westendorf apparently grabbed the parasail harness from behind and was lifted into the air.

The spokesman added that once boat operators noticed Mr. Westendorf they could not get him down before he fell.