| The deceased was a jumper with 110 jumps and 4 years in the sport. It was his 2nd jump of the year, the first having been earlier the same day. He went out last according to the loadmaster, as he was planning a to do a solo belly dive and to open high (4.500 ft), which he did.
The deployment and canopy rides were uneventful, everybody except for one student and the jumper already landed. The student (25 jumps) was on straight final approach at about 300 ft GND on a PD 280, while the deceased was still slightly higher on his downwind leg on a Merrit 190. The higher jumper turned to final after a shortened base leg, then wanted to correct his path to his left. By doing so he flew into the students canopies' right side and entangled with it.
The student sunk to the ground pretty much straight vertically at a significantly increased rate, while the other jumper orbited on a wider radius. The student was able to PLF and suffered relatively light injuries. The rotating jumper hit the ground flat suffering severe internal injuries. Paramedics arrived at the scene 8 minutes later and two helicopters shortly after. The jumper died while life-lifted to Würzburg University hospital. The student is recovering. |
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