Skydivers collide midair in harrowing 4300m fall
A FREAK skydiving accident caught on a GoPro has left two men injured, with one paralysed from the waist down. VIDEO
A FREAK skydiving accident left two divers injured, with one paralysed from the waist down. Sebastian Leal’s GoPro camera was attached to his wingsuit and captured the frightening collision 4300 metres (14,000 feet) above the city of Zephyrhills, Florida, on March 22.
“I remember leaving the aeroplane, and then approximately five seconds later, we collided,” 23-year-old Leal told FOX 13.
The other jumper’s chute deployed and he was also flown to the hospital after landing. He survived.
Video caught on Leal’s GoPro shows the collision almost immediately, which dislodged the GoPro, followed by video of an out of control spiral for several minutes before the camera hits the ground.
Leal, who was on his 402nd jump, was knocked unconscious immediately, though his reserve chute deployed. “I hit some powerlines before I hit the ground,” he said. “My next memory is lying on the ground in pain,” said Leal.
He was flown to Tampa General Hospital and has four fractured vertebrae and is paralysed from the waist down, but says he believes that’s temporary and he says he has no regrets. “What happened to me is very unlikely. It’s a freak accident,” he said. “I am optimistic that one day I will fly wingsuit again.”
Leal also wrote on his Facebook page that he is confident that he will make a full recovery.
“I feel very fortunate to be alive,” Leal told ABC Action News.
Leal fractured four vertebrae when he hit power lines on the way down and he on the side of a road.
“I am very thankful to the person who reacted as quickly as they did and called the police. They saved my life,” said Leal, who lives in Mexico and was holidaying in Florida.
He will arrive in Atlanta today for many weeks of rehabilitation. He has no intention of quitting his love of skydiving.
“There are other skydivers who have been handicapped and who have been able to get back on their wing suits, which is inspiring to me. And I hope that I serve as an inspiration for others as well,” he said.
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