Skydiver Killed After Parachute Fails During Landing Segment Of Flight

Skydiver Killed After Parachute Fails During Landing Segment Of Flight <

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Skydiver Killed After Parachute Fails During Landing Segment Of Flight By Daniel Guevarra

		March 26, 2010 - On Thursday at 11:10 AM, the Port Aransas Police Department received a call reference a skydiver that had landed on and through a condominium roof located at 604 Beach Access Road 1-A in Port Aransas, TX. Port Aransas Police, Port Aransas EMS, and Port Aransas Fire Department personnel responded to that location and upon arrival observed the victim still alive in the attic suffering from massive injuries sustained during the impact. Halo Flight was summoned and the victim was extricated through the roof with the assistance of a fire department ladder truck. Once on the ground, CPR was administered until 12:17 PM, when the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim, identified as 34 year old Hungarian National Peter Gerencser was employed as a photographer by Sky Dive Atlas out of Gardner New York. He was born 1975 in Szolnok, Hungary. Spokesman for Sky Dive Atlas who was at the scene, John Lanfor, stated that at the time of the accident, the victim was filming a tandem skydive with nine other skydivers. The jump was from 14,000 feet and winds were steady at 19 knots and gusting up to 23 knots prior to takeoff. Tandem skydiving refers to a type of skydiving where a student skydiver is connected via a harness to a tandem instructor. The instructor guides the student through the whole jump from exit through freefall, piloting the canopy, and landing. Mr. Lanfor stated that the victim was an experienced skydiver with over 10,000 jumps. Mr. Lanfor advised that the victim was performing a hook-turn maneuver and was near the condominium, and it was his belief that air turbulence from the gusting wind interacting with the condominium structure, partially collapsed the victim’s parachute, which in turn caused him to impact the condominium roof at a high rate of descent. Gerencser was a full-time skydiver, Freefly instructor, Load Organizer, Video and Photography, Ouragan Suits Designer. His Skydiving Experience began with his first 1st jump July, 26, 1992 (Round Canopy). Gerencser has been in the sport for over 15 years.

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