Skydiver, in his 50s, dies after jumping out of a plane as witnesses report ‘object falling from the sky’
A SKYDIVER has died jumping from a plane after eyewitnesses reported seeing “an object fall from the sky”.
Emergency services descended on Headcorn Aerodrome near Maidstone, Kent, at around 10am yesterday.
Officers were later seen searching fields around the aerodrome.
Kent Police has since confirmed that a solo skydiver was killed while jumping out of a plane.
The force said: “Officers attended the scene where a man in his 50s was confirmed to be deceased. His next of kin has been informed.
“The death is currently being treated as unexplained and an investigation into the circumstances is underway in liaison with British Skydiving.
“A report has been completed for the coroner.”
Lucy Barrett, 53, saw something fall to the ground as she was waiting to do a charity skydive.
The mum-of-three, from Burgess Hill, West Sussex, said bystanders were left “traumatised” after realising it was a body.
She told The Sun: “It happened just before I was being taken off for my skydive.
“My son was watching from the spectator’s section and saw the person hit the ground and the parachute open with the impact.
“Another person in my group was getting hysterical because she saw what happened.
“As we got to the landing base, they counted up the parachutes and there was one missing.
“So they sent out a survey plane looking for the person and acknowledged someone was missing and hadn’t landed.
“We were waiting there for probably about an hour with the professionals, waiting to see if we were going up.
“Then they found the person and it was confirmed he was found dead.”
A spokesman for skydiving company Go Skydive confirmed the incident will be investigated by the British Skydiving Board of Inquiry.
Reports will also be submitted to the coroner and police.
They said: “We are aware of an incident involving a solo club skydiver at a drop zone in Headcorn. Our thoughts are with those affected.
“We would like to express our sincere thanks to all emergency services and on-site teams for their swift and professional response, as well as to the ground staff who are assisting at this time.
“A British Skydiving Board of Inquiry will investigate the accident and, when completed, will submit reports to the coroner, the police, the CAA, British Skydiving and other relevant authorities.
“The report will include the board’s conclusions and will, if appropriate, make recommendations.
“At this stage, we are unable to provide any further information.
“We will continue to cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and will provide updates if and when it is appropriate to do so.”
Source: https://www.thesun.ie/news/16787883/skydiver-dies-plane-jump-cops-probe-death/
