Man dies, instructor hurt in skydiving accident near Grand Canyon airport

PHOENIX — One man died and another was injured after a skydiving jump near the Grand Canyon National Park Airport went awry, authorities said Tuesday.

Christopher Swales, 55, of the United Kingdom performed a tandem jump Sunday with an instructor from Paragon Skydive around 10 a.m., according to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said they encountered difficulties and hit in the ground in a “hard landing” after free falling for an unknown distance.

Both men were transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where Swales was pronounced dead. The instructor, who was not identified, suffered a broken leg.

Investigators said there are no indications the incident was criminal in nature.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.

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