07 February 2024 , 08:18
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A pensioner has died in a freak skydiving incident after his parachute failed to fully open at 14,000ft.
Police in Arizona are investigating after experienced skydiver Terry Gardner, 73, tragically died just after noon on Wednesday when he and three other skydivers were making their third jump of the day.
The group had planned a formation jump from 14,000ft but were unable to complete it, according to authorities. Gardner experienced complications when he attempted to deploy his parachute while the three other skydivers landed safely. However, Gardner's parachute never fully deployed during his descent.
Emergency services and crew arrived to stablise Gardener's condition, but he later died from his injuries at a local hospital a short while later.
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The experienced skydiver was part of a crew who were forming a formation (AZFamily)It remains unclear if there were any issues with the parachute, but there will be an inspection of the parachute conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine the cause of the complications, according to authorities.
"Our thoughts and condolences are with all those who knew and loved Terry Gardner during this challenging time," Eloy Police wrote on social media.
Skydive Arizona, who was in charge of the flight, expressed their sadness at the loss of the experienced 73-year-old skydiver, saying: "The Skydive Arizona community is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of a beloved member. This tragedy profoundly impacts everyone who knew them, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to their family and friends in this difficult period."
Police are investigating the death (AZFamily)The shocking incident comes just weeks after a nurse was among four victims who were killed in the desert following a hot air balloon crash.
Katie Bartrom, who was originally from Indiana, died last month after the aircraft crashed into the Arizona desert around five miles north of the city of Eloy at 7.50am. Eight skydivers were in the balloon, who had jumped before the incident, with five people remaining in the aircraft including a pilot and four others who were along for the ride.
One of the victims is 28-year-old nurse Katie who, according to her devastated mum Jennifer Hubartt, loved skydiving and adventure. "It's kind of somber here at home. We're crying about her on and off and talking about her on and off still trying to make it real," said Hubartt. "She was a beautiful person, she recently became an RN and was making it on her own."
Katie's mum said she had travelled from Indiana to Arizona with friends for the trip. "I talked to her while she was down there and she was really enjoying the experience and having fun and seeing a new place that she had never seen before."
According to a witness who saw the last seconds of the balloon's tragic descent, it was shapeless, deflated, and plummeting straight down. 'What we know at this point is the skydivers were able to exit the balloon without incident and completed their planned skydiving event, and then shortly thereafter something catastrophic happened with the balloon causing it to crash to the ground," Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney said.