Man in his 40s dies in parachute crash
An investigation has been launched after a man in his 40s died in a parachute crash in County Durham.
The victim, who hasn’t yet been named, was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday afternoon at the South West Industrial Estate in Shotton.
A spokesperson for Durham Police said last night that a cordon was expected to remain in the area for ‘some time’, and that they are currently treating the death as ‘unexpected’.
The British Skydiving Board (BSB) confirmed today it will be investigating the death.
A spokesperson for Sky-High Skydiving, who are based at Shotton Airfield, today said: ‘A British Skydiving board of inquiry will investigate the incident and when completed will submit reports to the coroner, the police, the Civil Aviation Authority, British Skydiving and any other relevant authorities.
‘The report will include the board’s conclusions and will, if appropriate, make recommendations.’
Police have issued an appeal to witnesses driving on the A19 who may have mobile phone footage or dashcam footage of the incident.
Detective Chief Inspector Mel Sutherland added: ‘They may have mobile phone footage or dashcam footage which captures the moments leading up to the incident.
‘Our thoughts remain with the man’s family at this time.’
The incident is the second fatal parachute incident at the airfield in eight years.
In 2016, Pamela Gower died at a housing estate near Shotton airfield when her primary parachute failed to open and she landed on a parked car.
A family member said she ‘lived life to the full’ and died ‘doing what she loved’.
And in 2022, a member of the diving display team the Red Devils died attempting an unplanned stunt at 3,000ft in Seville, Spain.
Dean Walton, a sergeant major in the British army, fell to the ground after becoming entangled in his dive partner’s parachute canopy.
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