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Skydiving Fatalities: 2005: North America: Possible medical issues

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Possible medical issues

	Location		Jump Information
Date:	2005-07-22	Category:	Unknown
Country:	United States	Factors:
State:	Texas	Jump Type:	AFF
Drop Zone:	Skydive San Marcos
	Gear		Personal Information
Container:		Sex:	Male
Main:	Omega Student 250	Age:	72
Reserve:		Jumps:	3
AAD:	Cypres	Years in Sport:	1
RSL:	Not Reported	Name:	James Kaster
Description
Following an uneventful freefall, the student’s canopy was deployed at an altitude of approximately 6,200ft AGL and observed to open normally by the AFF instructors in attendance. The AFF instructors landed and attempted to communicate with the student via the radio provided, as is the normal practice on a level 2 jump. The student did not respond to the instructions provided and the canopy was seen to be flying away from the drop zone. When the canopy disappeared from view, the DZ’s Twin Otter airplane was sent up with one of the AFF instructors onboard and the student was located approximately 1 mile south of the DZ. The emergency services, local police and FAA were immediately notified and an onsite inspection of the parachute equipment, radio and canopy did not reveal any signs of damage nor malfunction of any of the equipment. At this time the cause of death is unknown.
Lessons