Navy SEALs Injured In Parachute Jump

Two U.S. Navy parachutists were injured Tuesday when a training jump went awry, sending them crashing to the ground in a field near the U.S.-Mexico border. The SEAL team members' hard landings occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. near Otay Mesa and Alta roads, east of Brown Field airport, a Heartland Fire Department dispatcher said.

The members of the Navy's elite Leap Frogs skydiving unit reportedly got tangled in each other's equipment while taking part in an exercise at the Trident Jump Center in Otay Mesa.

The parachutists were performing what is known as a corkscrew maneuver. They began the jump at 12,000 feet. As they parachuted toward earth the team members were connected to one another. The problem came when they were unable to disconnect.

After the landing, medics worked to stabilize the patients for about half-hour before loading them into ambulances.

The parachutists were transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital, the dispatcher said.

The two patients suffered abdomen bruises and back pains. They were both listed in stable condition and were expected to fully recover.

About The Leap Frogs

The U.S. Navy Parachute Team is a fifteen-man team comprised entirely of U.S. Navy SEALs -- Sea, Air, and Land commandos.

Each member comes to the team for a three-year tour from one of the two Naval Special Warfare Groups located on the east and west coasts.

On completion of the tour, members return to operational SEAL Teams.

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