Lucky escape for skydiver
A skydiver had an amazing escape after he spiralled out of control for 1,000ft before crashing onto the roof of a Shropshire farm building.
A skydiver had an amazing escape after he spiralled out of control for 1,000ft before crashing onto the roof of a Shropshire farm building.
The man suffered serious neck and back injuries near The Parachute Centre at Tilstock Airfield, near Whitchurch.
Am bulance staff said the 40-year-old freelance cameraman, who was filming a first-time parachutist in a tandem jump, had a "lucky escape".
He landed on a grain storage hangar at Higher Heath, near Prees, about half a mile from the airfield where he was due to touch down, at 3.15pm yesterday.
It is believed his chute became entangled about 1,000ft from the ground and, although it remained open, he spiralled heavily to the ground following a 10,000ft skydive.
The Shrewsbury man, who has not been named, was airlifted to the University Hospital of North Staff ordshire in Stoke-on-Trent after the emergency services rescued him.
Colin Fitzmaurice, who runs The Parachute Centre, said: "I spoke to his father last night and I have spoken to the hospital this morning and he has neck injuries and had been admitted.
"He doesn't have any broken bones and his condition is not life-threatening."
Mr Fitzmaurice, 54, who is also a paramedic, said the parachute had malfunctioned, but it remained open and he was not in free-fall.
"He did hit hard, but was using a full face helmet which luckily protected him," he said. "He had obviously suffered some head injuries and was a bit concussed. He's a freefall cameraman with 20 years' experience."
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it sent an ambulance, two rapid response vehicles, the Hazardous Area Response Team and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford.
Spokeswoman Suzie Fothergill said: "Using specialist equipment and with the assistance of the fire service paramedics brought the man down to safety from the roof. The man was treated on scene for potentially serious head and neck injuries.
"He was fully immobilised at the scene before being conveyed, via air ambulance, to hospital for further assessment and treatment.
"A trauma team were on stand by at the hospital who had been pre-alerted to the arrival of the man."
