'Absolutely chilling': Skydiver dead after parachute malfunctions
A skydiver whose parachute didn't deploy properly has died after making a crash landing in Western Australia.
The 30-year-old died at the scene in Jurien Bay, 220 kilometres north of Perth, about 1.30pm (local time) on Sunday during the the Virtual Australian Skydiving Competition, ABC News reported.
The skydiver was competing in the event with friends and according to a local skydiving company, he was a foreign national doing a solo jump.
Emergency crews were called to the scene but the man could not be saved.
The accident is reportedly under investigation by the Australian Parachute Federation.
The man was a tourist in Western Australia and was an experienced skydiver attempting a “high-level” wingsuit jump, The West Australian reported.
"Our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends,” Skydive Jurien Bay told the publication.
A wingsuit involves jumping from either a plane or a mountain then deploying a parachute when the flyer is close to the ground.
The man was described as a "veteran of skydiving" by Dandaragan Shire president Leslee Holmes, who revealed he had performed 6000 jumps before the fatal accident, ABC News reported.
"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 said.
WA Police are preparing a report for the coroner.
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