Kamloops skydiver lands safely after parachute fails to deploy | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kamloops skydiver lands safely after parachute fails to deploy

Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK

‘THE SKY GODS WERE REALLY LOOKING OUT FOR US.’

KAMLOOPS – Skydivers made 1,600 jumps last weekend with one close call when a man's parachute failed to deploy.

Emergency crews were called by a concerned citizen, but left shortly after when it was clear the man was not injured in the incident, Kamloops Skydivers club manager Dean Schryver says. The diver recognized there was an issue with his parachute, released it and successfully activated his backup.

"It happens every year. Someone sees a parachute trailing to the ground and they think they've died," Schryver says. “He had a great landing and all his stuff landed near him in the field.”

The situation may have looked alarming to someone “ill-informed” and outside of the realm of skydiving, says Schryver. However, all skydivers are trained how to handle a malfunctioning parachute.

Three Canadian records were broken over the weekend at the club's 50th anniversary celebration near Kamloops Airport, according to Schryver. A women’s formation ‘head up’ record, most jumps in one day by a woman and the women’s long distance record under a canopy flight were claimed in Kamloops. Three officials from the lower mainland attended to ensure all standards were met for the record attempts.

Roughly 130 registered skydivers attended and several hundred Kamloops locals came out to watch the show.


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