Skydiver dies leaping out aircraft as individuals spot ‘object falling from sky’ above UK city
A skydiver has died after jumping from a plane as eyewitnesses reported seeing “an object fall from the sky”.
Emergency services rushed to Headcorn Aerodrome near Maidstone, Kent, at around 10am on Monday. Police were later on in the day seen searching the fields around the aerodrome. Kent Police has confirmed a skydiver died while jumping out of a plane.
The force said: “Officers attended the scene where a man in his 50s was confirmed to be deceased. His next of kin has been informed. The death is currently being treated as unexplained and an investigation into the circumstances is underway in liaison with British Skydiving. A report has been completed for the coroner.”
Lucy Barrett, 53, spotted something falling to the ground as she was waiting to do a charity skydive, reports the Sun. The mum-of-three said bystanders were left “traumatised” after realising it was a body. She said: “It happened just before I was being taken off for my skydive.
“My son was watching from the spectator’s section and saw the person hit the ground and the parachute open with the impact. Another person in my group was getting hysterical because she saw what happened. As we got to the landing base, they counted up the parachutes and there was one missing.
“So they sent out a survey plane looking for the person and acknowledged someone was missing and hadn’t landed. We were waiting there for probably about an hour with the professionals, waiting to see if we were going up. Then they found the person and it was confirmed he was found dead.”
A spokesman for skydiving company Go Skydive confirmed the incident will be investigated by the British Skydiving Board of Inquiry. They said: “We are aware of an incident involving a solo club skydiver at a drop zone in Headcorn. Our thoughts are with those affected.
“We would like to express our sincere thanks to all emergency services and on-site teams for their swift and professional response, as well as to the ground staff who are assisting at this time.
“A British Skydiving Board of Inquiry will investigate the accident and, when completed, will submit reports to the coroner, the police, the CAA, British Skydiving and other relevant authorities.
“The report will include the board’s conclusions and will, if appropriate, make recommendations. At this stage, we are unable to provide any further information.
“We will continue to cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and will provide updates if and when it is appropriate to do so.”
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