Fears for skydiver between Mackay and Whitsundays

A skydiver has managed to avoid crash landing after their main parachute reportedly failed over water between Mackay and the Whitsundays.  

There were grave concerns for a skydiver reportedly seen hard landing on water after an alleged parachute fail.

It is understood a skydiver has managed to avoid a crash landing after their main parachute reportedly failed over water.

Members of the public had phoned police to say they had witnessed a skydiver crash land over water, and then not re-emerge from underneath.

The persons also reported seeing three other parachuters still in the sky whose parachutes had seemingly opened without incident.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said paramedics were at 1pm tasked to respond to the reported incident near the Laguna Quays and Midge Point landing area, between Mackay and the Whitsundays.

The QAS spokeswoman said the crew was unable to find any skydivers and so left the scene.

It is understood the skydiver’s main parachute had not opened perfectly, giving witnesses the impression they had seen a skydiver plummet into the water.

It is understood the skydiver’s secondary parachute did open perfectly and they were able to make a safe landing.

The skydiving landing zone at Laguna Quays is listed as the regular drop zone for Airlie Beach Skydivers.

Earlier this year, a female skydiver in her 30s was treated for a leg injury at Kunapipi Rd, close to the Laguna Quays dropzone, after suffering a hard landing.

That incident was just days after 52-year-old experienced skydiver Douglas Ball died after suffering critical injuries in a hard landing at Laguna Quays just before midday on April 16.

Originally published as Fears for skydiver between Mackay and Whitsundays