One dead, another seriously injured after skydiving accident in Torquay

A skydiving instructor died after a tandem jump went horribly wrong in Torquay on Friday. The passenger remains in hospital.

A parachute instructor has died and following a tragic skydiving incident in Torquay.

His passenger, who remained in hospital in a stable condition on Saturday morning, was seriously injured.

Victoria Police confirmed the pair were doing a tandem jump when the parachute failed, leaving them spiralling in difficulty before crash-landing in a paddock off Fischer Street just before 1pm.

One man, believed to be in his 30s, died at the scene.

Ambulance Victoria confirmed paramedics treated another man, believed to be in his 50s, before airlifting him to the Alfred Hospital in a critical condition. It is believed the passenger’s daughter, who was also booked in for a tandem jump, witnessed at least some of the incident.

The pair had taken off from Torquay Airport and were attempting a tandem jump when the first parachute failed.

It’s understood they attempted to activate the second parachute and also ran into trouble.

Co-owner and Australian Skydive chief instructor Ralph Hamilton-Presgrave told media at the scene the skydiving instructor was “very experienced”.

A person has died and another is in a critical condition after a skydiving incident at Torquay. Picture: 7News Melbourne

A paddock off Fisher Rd outside Torquay where a person died in a skydiving accident. Picture: Alison Wynd

“The actual parachute malfunctioned and that’s why we always carry two. In this instant, both parachutes haven’t opened correctly,” he said.

“I don’t know why. It will be investigated fully.”

Torquay Sergeant Peter Christo told media that emergency attempts were made to open the parachute.

“I believe the instructor may have cushioned a lot of the blow for the client,” he said.

Witnesses at the scene said the instructor was conscious and trying to get to his feet after he first landed. They reported seeing two helicopters, four ambulances and a number of police vehicles attending the incident.

Australian Skydive, which is based at Torquay Airport, reports having more than 50 years skydiving experience and more than 90,000 jumps among its instructors.

Police and the Australian Parachute Federation will investigate the incident and prepare a report for the coroner.

Originally published as One dead, another seriously injured after skydiving accident in Torquay