Parachute instructor dies in tandem jump – passenger rescued

Melbourne. A parachute instructor in Australia died in a tandem jump and probably saved his guest’s life. The dramatic accident occurred in Torquay in the state of Victoria: After jumping out of the plane, neither the main screen nor the replacement screen opened properly, the Australian media reported on Monday.

When the impact occurred, the experienced tandem master Arron Toepfer took the full force himself, which protected the 50-year-old passenger, reported the newspaper “The Australian”. According to the information, he should have positioned himself in such a way that the impact was cushioned for the guest. The 35-year-old died at the scene of the accident.

Colleagues: Parachute instructor was “highly qualified”

The passenger was hospitalized with broken bones, a dislocated hip, and bleeding from his spleen and kidney. The parachute instructor, who was described by his colleagues as “highly qualified” and who had completed an average of six to eight jumps per week, was celebrated as a hero in Australia. How the accident could have happened was initially unclear. The authorities announced that the background should be examined in detail.

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