Man dies, instructor hurt in skydiving accident near Grand Canyon airport
Sep 10, 2019, 4:30 PM
(Google Maps Photo)
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.