A 48-year-old man was skydiving at Moruya when he landed heavily and died the next day. Photo: Kim Treasure.
A skydiver has died in hospital after a jump on the NSW South Coast, sparking an investigation into the incident.
Emergency services were called to Moruya Airport at around 10:30 am on 17 August 2024 over reports of a skydiver landing heavily, a NSW Police spokesperson said.
Paramedics arrived and treated a 48-year-old man for head injuries and broken bones.
He was airlifted to Canberra Hospital in a critical condition before dying on 18 August.
“A report will be prepared for the coroner,” the police spokesperson said.
A joint statement by the Australian Parachute Federation (APF), which regulates sport skydiving, and Skydive Oz, which operates at Moruya, said the man died after attempting a routine jump.
Skydive Oz’s chief instructor, Paul Smith, who has owned the skydiving operation at Moruya Heads for 17 years, was at the drop zone when the incident occurred.
“It is still too early to understand exactly what caused the incident, but we know that while the parachute opened and functioned normally, he experienced a heavy landing and sustained multiple injuries,” Mr Smith said on 22 August.
“At Skydive Oz, we do everything we can to make it as safe as possible for all of our members, regardless of their level of experience, and the close-knit skydiving community here is devastated that this has occurred.
“We are incredibly grateful to the first responders and emergency services personnel who provided first aid care and arranged for his helicopter flight to Canberra.”
APF CEO Stephen Porter said all serious parachute incidents were investigated to understand the cause and to improve safety measures for the future.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family and everyone involved at this tragic time,” he said.
“An APF safety and training officer arrived on site at Moruya Heads on Saturday night to begin a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident.”
Region is aware of two other deaths to occur while skydiving at Moruya.
In November 2008, an experienced skydiver, aged in his late 40s, was found dead in a tree after missing the drop zone.
Another experienced skydiver, aged in his 30s, died in December 2012 after his parachutes became tangled during a jump.
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