Christopher Swales, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, had been gifted the jump by his wife Deborah for their 30th wedding anniversary while on holiday in the US in September 2019
Image: Facebook)
A British dad fell to his death during a Grand Canyon skydive after he was allegedly given a faulty parachute, an inquest heard.
Christopher Swales had been gifted the jump by his wife Deborah for their 30th wedding anniversary while on holiday in the US in September 2019.
The 55-year-old, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was partnered with a top military instructor who was said to have “panicked” after realising they were coming in short of the landing zone.
US Air Force jump expert Matthew McGonagle, 34, had told investigators from his hospital bed there appeared to be no problems prior to the skydive.
Mr McGonagle had opened the chute as normal after freefalling from the Cessna aircraft.
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Image:
Facebook)
But he is said to have made an “aggressive left turn” before it collapsed in midair and the pair hurtled towards the ground, the court heard.
Mr Swales suffered multiple injuries and later died, while Mr McGonagle broke his leg and injured his side.
The dad-of-two passed away a day before his 56th birthday.
Five people were aboard the plane when it left the Grand Canyon National Park Airport shortly after 9.30am.
Ground winds on the day of the jump were recorded as 27mph – 2mph above the UK legal limit, according to British Skydiving.
Mr McGonagle, who had previously taken part in more than 1,500 jumps, admitted “there was a bit of chaos” over seating arrangements on the jet.
He told police that the “only thing that was unique” about the day of the jump was “higher than normal” wind, but added he had experience in such conditions.
A report by Coconino County Sheriff’s Office said Mr McGonagle explained the chute initially opened and the jumpers were held up by the canopy.
But that in the last turn before they approached the landing zone he became aware of a “pressure change and possibly his canopy collapse”.
After hitting the ground, Mr McGonagle said things became “a little fuzzy” but he remembered being treated by medical staff and then taken to hospital.
Jason Thuema, owner of Paragon Skydiving, which authorised the jump, saw the tragedy unfold from the ground.
He removed the parachute and its canister from the scene because, he claimed, it was “hindering emergency services”, according to police report.
However, officers seized it later the same morning.
During an inspection, DS Jason Lurkinss said he found “numerous patches sewn into the fabric” of the chute.
He went on to say a colleague pointed out defects near the patches, which appeared to have been circled with a pen “to track movement”.
But Mr Thuema, 38, denied observing any issues with the equipment prior to the jump.
He added, in a statement, that Mr McGonagle “must have panicked” and “performed an aggressive left turn” before disaster struck.
Coroner Jonathan Heath told the inquest in Northallerton, North Yorkshire “on the balance of probabilities that this was an accident”.
In a statement Mr Swales’ family said: “He had a very full life. He was full of fun and love. He was full of spirit and fun times. That is how we are going to remember him.”