Skydiver Falls To His Death After Parachute Didn't Open Above Western Australia

A skydiver has died after an apparent issue with his parachute opening during a dive over Western Australia.

The 30-year-old was falling from the sky at Jurien Bay, 220 kilometres north of Perth, yesterday (March 13) afternoon and everything was running smoothly.

He was taking part in a solo wingsuit jump during the Virtual Nationals Skydiving Competition.

As he reached a certain altitude, it is reported his parachute didn't open as planned.

Sadly, his chute didn't deploy in time and he died on impact.

Dandaragan Shire president Leslee Holmes said the tragedy had devastated the coastal town.

Wikimedia Commons/Bahnfrend

"The [man] who unfortunately lost his life was a veteran of skydiving, 6,000 jumps," she said.

"The first responders, and the [people] who had to witness this, it must be absolutely chilling.

"For the town of Jurien Bay and the Shire of Dandaragan, this is our premium business, we attract so many people to the town."

She added the victim was a foreign national who was using his own equipment.

The incident is now under investigation by the Australian Parachute Federation.

Police said in a statement: "The man jumped from an aircraft and it is believed his parachutes failed to deploy correctly and he fell to the ground.

"The man received critical injuries and sadly died at the scene."

Western Australia Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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