Deadly moment acrobat loses control of parachute and sends audience flying

09 October 2023 , 13:15

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Deadly moment acrobat loses control of parachute and sends audience flying

Several people were sent sprawling and one person was killed when a parachutist careered into a crowd during an air acrobatics event.

A bank manager was among those seriously hurt when the extreme sportsman suddenly fell from the sky after losing control as he performed a loop. Video showed the parachutist approaching solid ground at a great speed in front of stunned audience members at the music festival in Brazil. The parachutist can then be seen hitting one victim, who is sent flying as other people gasped in shock.

Bank manager Wagner Rubens Gaido, 63, reportedly died at the scene. Two other people and the parachutist were taken to hospital with unspecified injuries. The event's organisers said the festival, which continued despite the incident, complied with all the safety protocols. Police are investigating the incident.

The moment the parachutist approached the crowd at high speed (Newsflash)

Members of the public rushed to help the stricken people (Newsflash)

Over the weekend a skydiver fell to his death onto the lawn of a horrified home owner. The Titusville Police Department said in a statement the solo skydiver was found dead on the lawn of a residence in the coastal town in Florida, at 12.30 pm on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency services rushed to the scene but he was pronounced dead outside the home near Arthur Dunn Airpark. The victim, who hasn't been identified by police, was wearing parachute attire and gear when he was found. Police have said this "remains an ongoing investigation" and more details will be released when the investigation has wound up.

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Wagner Rubens Gaido, 63, is said to have been killed in the accident (Newsflash)

A statement from Titusville Police department read: "Titusville Police Detectives are investigating the death of a man in connection with a solo parachuting incident that occurred on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at approximately 12:25 PM. The preliminary investigation revealed an adult male outfitted in parachute attire and gear was located on the lawn of a residence on the 2600 block of Merry Lane.

"The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. This remains an ongoing investigation and more details will be released upon its conclusion." The Titusville Department have said a helicopter was also called in for the incident but cancelled after the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Earlier this year a woman died while attempting a risky skydiving manoeuvre. Melissa Porter, a 29-year-old champion from Australia, died while testing a high-risk manoeuvre called "swooping" in Texas. The event involved eight parachutists jumping from a plane, with only one of them getting into difficulties and hitting the man on the head.

Antony Clements-Thrower