Skydiving instructor Arron Toepfer hailed a ‘true hero’ for helping to save Christopher Rantall’s life

The wife of a Warrnambool man who survived a skydiving accident has paid tribute to the “hero” instructor who died while trying to save his life.

The skydiving accident happened at a paddock off Fisher Rd near Torquay. Picture: Alison Wynd

A Warrnambool man is on the road to recovery following a tandem inccident which claimed the life of his skydiving instructor.

Christopher Rantall was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after he crash-landed into a paddock with his skydiving instructor, Arron Toepfer, on Friday afternoon.

Police say Mr Toepfer’s parachute malfunctioned mid-dive and he “cushioned the blow” when the pair fell to the ground.

Mr Rantall suffered a dislocated hip, bleeding to his spleen and left kidney, as well as several broken bones – but is now in a stable condition at The Alfred Hospital.

In a message posted online, his wife, Berni Rantall, praised the Torquay skydiving instructor who died trying to save his life.

Christopher Rantall suffered a dislocated hip among other horror injuries.

Mr Rantall remains in hospital in a stable condition.

“Thinking and praying for the instructor’s family at this sad time..he was a true hero and such a brave young man.”

She added “it was nothing short of a miracle” that her partner, who operates a YouTube diving channel, was still alive.

“You are a strong and a real fighter and that is what’s doing to get you through this,” she said.

Mr Rantall’s daughter urged her friends and family to think of the Warrnambool grandfather, who is in his 50s, as he begins his recovery.

“Everyone, please keep him in your thoughts and we can’t wait to see him…we love and miss you so much dad, please get better soon,” she said.

“To say [that] i am grateful is an understatement.”

TRIBUTES FOR SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR

A Torquay skydiving instructor Arron Toepfer is being remembered as a friendly and generous man who was dedicated to his profession.

Owner of Australian Skydive, Ralph Hamilton-Presgrave, said Mr Toepfer was a “great guy” who always put others first.

“Arron was always willing to help and would give you the shirt off his back if he could … he will be sorely missed,” Mr Hamilton-Presgrave told the Herald Sun.

Skydiving instructor Arron Toepfer was an extremely experienced instructor.

Mr Toepfer worked at Australian Skydive for over six years and was one of the top instructors at the company, according to one of his colleagues, who did not wish to be named.

“He was a really good guy, extremely experienced, probably the top two experienced people here, he knew what he was doing [and was] really capable,” the skydiving instructor said.

“[The accident] could have happened to any one of us.”

The colleague said Mr Toepfer had performed about 6000 jumps.

“He was a good guy,” he said.

“Sometimes sh-t just happens outside of our control and it’s the nature of the sport.

“(He) didn’t deserve it and has left a big hole in a very small and tight community and work place.”

Police held a counselling session with staff at Australian Skydive on Saturday afternoon to comfort Mr Toepfer’s grieving colleagues.

Mr Hamilton-Presgrave said staff were “coping as best they can …[but] some are doing it harder than others.”

He said the company still does not know how the accident happened and will reflect on what occurred over the next few days.

“It is a high adventure sport, accidents like this do happen but are very rare, why this has happened I don’t know.”

“We are playing it by ear, we need to take stock of what’s transpired.”

The crash will be investigated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Parachute Federation, while police will prepare a report for the coroner.