0
tfelber

Thanks to all who carried my a$$ to the hospital.

Recommended Posts

I didn't get a chance to thank everyone who helped get me out of the predicament I got myself into. The break was pretty severe, compound tib/fib on me left ankle. I also have some damage to my right ankle but am unsure of the extent.

Lesson #1 - If you get injured jumping around Beckley, WV suck it up and spend the extra time going to a Charleston hospital where they have more than one doctor and an emergency room staff that doesn't cringe at the sight of blood. If you want more on that experience PM me.

Regarding the jump itself... I went HH from 250' but rather than dropping straight down as I had seen others do I launched diagonally to give myself more head room. I had seen others launch this way also, but they were PCA'd or SL'd. Launching in this direction brings a cement pillar into play should you experience an off heading left. I didn't really think I would reach the pillar even if I experienced the worst-case off heading, which I did.

Lesson#2 - If there is a chance of hitting something have a DBS and use it. My Flik didn't come with a DBS and I have not been proactive about installing or testing one. I felt the need but always let other things interfere with the endeavor.

Upon opening I was staring at the cement pulling on my right rear riser yelling F!@k, F!@k$, F!@k. I got it turned but was out of altitude and had no forward glide. As my body swung back under the canopy I impacted the ground.

I definitely wonder if toggles instead of risers would have turned it around quickly enough with less altitude loss. I only needed about five more feet to have a landable situation.

Lesson#3 - This may be completely obvious but always consider the landing area that you may be faced with if the jump doesn't go as planned. I've found myself more than once planning for things going well and missing a major landing issue should something not goes as plan.

Thanks again to everyone who carried me out and got me to a hospital. I hope I never have to repay the favor but gladly would.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Tony,

Glad you're ok, or as good as can be, considering the circumstances. And thanks for the "lessons learned." Can't wait til I hear the rest of the story!

Too bad we won't get to jump before I leave the country in December (long story, PM me.)

David

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Does your "FLIK" have the 5th control line?? If so, thats the reason it doesn't have an additional brake setting.
Spence used it after your accident and had it laid out by the packing area after his jump. I offered to pack it, but I don't think they liked my comment about tension knots.:S:P
"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Sorry to hear about your injury. Sounds badB|

I wish I was there for you like you were there for me last year in Moab, mate.

Heal well, and don't second guess yourself too much. The nature of these things is that you will learn from it and come out a better jumper. I didn't see it, but I can tell you this: You did well enough my friend.

Lesson for others: Be prepared - its coming for you, and it gives you no warning before it tries to tear your life away from you in a split second.

Be Safe.
-Bill

~
Fear is the thief of dreams...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
yes, the local hospital is terrible. they misdiagnosed my broken tailbone a decade ago and tried to release even though my blood pressure kept dropping to 50/20. they didn't even give me any painkillers. the hospital dropped the fees after realizing that their physician was so imcompent. definetly go elsewhere if you are hurt.
Looks like a death sandwich without the bread - Steve Deadman Morrell, BASE 174

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
You are welcome. Thank you for keeping my streak (3 years) of carrying somebody out of that place. Hope you heal fast.

P.S. You are a heavy fucker.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote



P.S. You are a heavy fucker.

You think maybe, thats the reason he has that nickname..................:P
"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
No problem buddy. You took it well with laughs n jokes on the way out. Or maybe that was your way of keeping the fact that magot had your busted ankle in his hands off your mind?

And yes, you are a heavy fucker. Hope you heal quick doode.

P.S. "Hey, by the way, what's your name again?" :P

later

Those who do, can't explain. Those who don't, can't understand.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote


I definitely wonder if toggles instead of risers would have turned it around quickly enough with less altitude loss. I only needed about five more feet to have a landable situation.



Yes, toggles are better at conserving altitude and better for turn rate.
"Anything you can do with the risers, you can do WAY better with the toggles"
http://miller28.server101.com/discus/articles/risersortoggles.html
"The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it. " -John Galt from Atlas Shrugged, 1957

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Hey Tony,

Sorry to hear you got banged up but glad it wasn't more serious.
I imagine you will be laid up for a while recovering.
You need anything? Jump flicks, porn, etc.? :)
Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Yes, toggles are better at conserving altitude and better for turn rate.
"Anything you can do with the risers, you can do WAY better with the toggles"
http://miller28.server101.com/discus/articles/risersortoggles.html



I strongly disagree. If you want to have the argument, we can start another thread, but in short, my view is that:

a) Toggles are better if you must conserve altitude;
b) Risers are better if you must conserve distance to object strike.
-- Tom Aiello

[email protected]
SnakeRiverBASE.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Hey Tony

Glad to see you're OK enough to post.

Sorry I didn't stick around to see your jump, I was busy carrying another jumper out to go to hospital.

Good lessons learned, I would like to add the following:

the exit height is 230 ft

the section we went from is NOT in center between the pillars, there are 11 sections and we went from number 5 from the pillar to the left

you have enough canopy time to hit either pillar with a staticline, a PCA, a freefall assist, a handheld freefall and even a stowed freefall, if you had gone from the center between them and got an offheading towards either pillar

you only need to watch where people land to realise this

heavier people with bigger canopies cannot safely freefall the same low heights as lighter people with smaller canopies

no-one should be freefalling this object if they are not QUICK on the toggles and know how to fly their entire canopy flight in deep brakes and get a stand-up landing while flaring from deep brakes

hope you recover well and quickly

cya

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote


the exit height is 230ft

WHOA!!!! Sounds like a static line/PCA for anybody in the 300sqft. +/- range. I jumpa troll 305 and I wouldn't freefall it.:S
"No cookies for you"- GFD
"I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65
Don't be a "Racer Hater"

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Dude! Ouch. It sounds like you're recovering okay? I'm really glad to hear that you managed the situation as well as you did.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Heal fast!!!

I'm glad I was not there carrying your fat ass out!

It could have been worst dude.
You know you have a problem when maggot is the voice of reason at the exit points

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

the exit height is 230 ft



i was hoping someone else might point that out. there's a big difference in 20ft... it's the last few feet that matter the most.:P

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
No problem, I'm just happy that I had your ankles for most of the trip:P... as somebody mentioned, why couldn't people call you skinny tony?:S
-Ghetto
"The reason death cannot frighten me, is because life has cured me of fear."
Web Design
Cleveland Skydiving

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Thanks for the info Sam. I agree with most things you said. You even mentioned we were closer to the pillar I ended up aimed before you exited. The one thing is the altitude. From directly under the exit point I lasered it the day before at 84yds or 252ft to impact. The desired landing area was about 5 to 6 feet higher than that. Where I impacted was probably higher than the preferred landing area although I don't know how much because I didn't consider the possibility of landing there (see Lesson#3 I believe)

As for the jump itself I do not regret my decisions I would like to try it again. I knew how high it was and understood the added risks. I didn't take into account the distance to the pillar and didn't have the altitude necessary to recover from the evasive manuever.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
No problem brother man, hope you heal fast.....then lose about 20....my god damn back hurts....and those sticks around the blanket isn't exactly 21st century ;)

Get well.
BK

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
...but indeed they helped...
-Ghetto
"The reason death cannot frighten me, is because life has cured me of fear."
Web Design
Cleveland Skydiving

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

I didn't get a chance to thank everyone who helped get me out of the predicament I got myself into. The break was pretty severe, compound tib/fib on me left ankle. I also have some damage to my right ankle but am unsure of the extent.





No problem, was good thing to have a blanket in the car. I still have your sneaker. Tell me where you want it sent. Also some pics from backside of jump

Men get laid, but women get screwed.
I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid.

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
230 ft? Man, I saw you jump from way lower... OK, that was SL. Heal fast, cross the ocean, drop me a PM, jump some of our E's and you'll know why that rock is too low for me now ( I'm now a scared little thing, and if I can't jump my wingsuit of an object, I'm not jumping it...:P)

Take care


Fabien
BASE#944

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Weight is an issue for lower freefalls for sure. 230ft is definitely within my freefall limit as a heavier jumper under a bigger canopy, but you have to expect significantly less canopy time than other lighter jumpers and you won't make it as far, so if the only landing area is a flight away (or you have obstacles to clear to get to it) then i'll err with the static line.

Weight doesn't seem to be such an issue with static lines or PCA's in my experience. and you can go down into the 140ft and less range without much to worry about (above and beyond the normal worries any jumper might have that low).

With regards risers or toggles on this jump....who knows if you made the right decision? Maybe toggles might have gained you some altitude, but maybe you wouldn't have got the canopy turned away from the pillar as soon. Perhaps if you'd popped the toggles you'd have surged into the concrete and might be dead now. You'll never know the answer to that one.

Heal fast and beware cold weather from now on. It really sets the arthritis off.

ian

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
0