instructor.

Mr. Michael Strohofer's video tape of himself parasailing over scenic Castle Harbour this June was picked from thousands of entries to air on the popular television show America's Funniest Home Videos.

Mr. Strohofer, an American who works for South Side Scuba, thought he would get some aerial shots of Castle Harbour and Grotto Bay by taking his Sony TR 101 camcorder parasailing with him.

Boat operator Mr. Keith Abrahams had been trying some new manoeuvres to get him closer to the water but they backfired and Mr. Strohofer suddenly dropped from the sky and plunged straight into the sea -- camcorder and all.

A special waterproof casing protected the camcorder and tape and Mr. Strohofer -- no stranger to the deep sea -- was none the worse.

A publicist for America's Funniest confirmed yesterday Mr. Strohofer's video had been chosen and would air next Sunday. The show comes on ABC (ZBM 7) at 8 p.m.

Mr. Strohofer, who soon goes to Richmond, Virginia with his wife Lori for the winter, was surprised yesterday to learn his video had been picked.

He said he decided to send the tape to America's Funniest Home Videos after a showing to friends brought loads of laughs.

"It kind of looks like the camera got trashed and I went straight down,'' he said.

He had not heard from the show's producers since signing a waiver a few months ago.

"I guess it will be one of the short fill-in clips,'' he said. He could have landed a trip to California to be part of the audience and a cash prize if his tape had selected as one of the top three.

America's Funniest Home Videos, a former top ten US TV show, is in its sixth season and hosted by comedian Bob Saget.

It airs to millions of viewers in nearly 80 countries around the world.

Publicist Ms Karri Lucas said more than half a million home videos had been received since the show's inception with nearly $3 million awarded in cash prizes.