A British man’s skydiving trip in Nevada nearly ended in disaster when both his parachutes failed, sending him and his instructor plummeting 11,000 feet above the desert.
Mitchell Deakin, 25, from Lancashire, suffered serious injuries after crash-landing at about 40 mph near Jean, south of Las Vegas, on Sept. 17, according to the BBC. He and his 54-year-old instructor, identified by a friend as Jiron Arcos Ponce, were airlifted to a local hospital, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
A police report released this week says a fellow instructor saw Deakin’s main chute malfunction. When the backup chute also failed to fully open, the pair spiraled uncontrollably before hitting the ground.
Deakin, who had been celebrating his birthday, sustained a fractured pelvis, broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a lacerated kidney, updates from his girlfriend and mother said. He is currently hospitalized in Nevada, has begun walking short distances with assistance, and is expected to remain in care for several more weeks. Ponce remained in critical condition last week with injuries that have not been disclosed.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the packing and deployment of the parachutes but noted it does not determine the cause of such accidents. Meanwhile, back home, Deakin’s local pub is rallying support, and an online fundraiser has already raised $25,000 to assist with his recovery. Friends say that despite the traumatic experience, Deakin remains positive and grateful for the outpouring of support.