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Krusin

Tandem with amputated leg

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I don't usually post to public forums, because of the likelihood of public ridicule, but I'm kinda proud of this one.

I was recently contacted by the family of a 19 y.o.m. with terminal bone cancer. One of his great desires was to skydive. He'd been turned down by three other skydiving facilities, because his left leg had been amputated at the hip. They all stated that it wasn't possible to take him because he had no 'stump'.

In the wake of recent events, with students falling from harnesses, it seems we as Tandem Instructors have become gun shy when it comes to taking persons with 'special needs', or 'special body shapes'.

I thought it was worth a try, so I set up an interview and fitting, with a possible jump the day after. I admit that the final rigging was crude, but more than effective. We basically used the closed leg strap as a 'cradle, with makeshift front and back straps to create a 'girdle'. We also tied the leg straps together to eliminate the possiblity of separation on deployment.

The jump went perfectly and the jumper and his family were extremely grateful. Sometime's it just takes a little extra time.

I'd be happy to provide more information and photos, via a separate medium if anyone is interested.

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