Skydiver'schute was sabotaged say police

The Independent (UK) ^ | July 6, 2003 | Gareth Sturdy

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

A skydiver died after falling 13,000ft because his parachute had been tampered with, a senior detective said last night.

Police have launched a major inquiry into who handled Stephen Hilder's equipment immediately prior to his jump. The 20-year-old, an officer cadet at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham, near Swindon, Wiltshire, was taking part in an annual national parachuting competition.

University students from across the UK had travelled to an airfield at Hibaldstow near Brigg, Humberside, to take part.

The head of the inquiry, Detective Superintendent Colin Andrews of Humberside Police, described Mr Hilder's death as "horrendous".

"The parachute equipment had been tampered with before he jumped. This is extremely unusual," he said. Mr Hilder had made more than 200 jumps and was understood to have belonged to the Army Parachute Association (APA). Based at Airfield Camp in Netheravon, Wiltshire, it is one of the oldest parachute clubs in the world.

His equipment was checked on Wednesday night and stored in good working order and the sky-diver was "extremely safety conscious", police said.

An APA member, who did not want to be named, described Mr Hilder as a "very nice man". His family, who live in the Hereford area, are said to be "devastated". Police officers have interviewed more than 70 bystanders who witnessed the incident or who were at the airfield at the time.

Officers want to speak to anyone who was at the airfield at any time between last Monday and the accident on Friday.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

As Inspector Morse would say, "Lewiiis".

[Tijeras_Slim]

Must have tampered with his reserve as well.

[Darksheare]

He suffered from Sudden Deceleration Syndrome.

[Tijeras_Slim]

The grass is always greener where the skydiver hits.

[Darksheare]

But it's also dented.

[PaulJ]

Reminds me of what my Grandfather used to say:
"It's not the fall that kills you, it's the sudden stop."

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

It's not the fall, it's the sudden stop.

[Darksheare]

Sudden Deceleration Syndrome.
And there is no cure.

[razbinn]

ACK! ! !

[dennisw]

As Inspector Morse would say, "Lewiiis"......

My favorite BBC show ever

[pops88]

Blue skies, black death.

[thoughtomator]

I bet he won the Fastest Skydive competition

[Tamzee]

What an awful story :-(

I hope they catch the person that did this, take him half a mile up and push him out with nothing but a box of Kleenex.

[Glock17]

To make it fair, it would have to be higher than a half mile. 13,000 ft is 2.13952 (Nautical miles) high, or 2.462121 Statute miles. I would want the perp to have the same amount of time to think about his death as the victim did.

[Bon mots]

Did this guy have any incriminating evidence that could have been harmful to Bill or Hillary Clinton?

[4mycountry]

Q. What's the difference between a golfer and a skydiver?

A. A golfer goes Whack, Dang! A skydiver goes Dang, Whack!

[Principled]

It would take some serious doing to foul his main and his reserve... and some know-how.

[SSN558]

"It would take some serious doing to foul his main and his reserve... and some know-how."

I used to jump a lot and it amazed me at how simple it would be to tamper with someones chute. All that is required is a knife or set of cutters. The reserve is usually sealed with a lead seal,packed by an APA certified, and would require a bit more expertise.

[Principled]

Yes, the lead-sealed reserve has initials of the reserve packer/inspector. It would take a lot to tamper with it without springing it or leaving clear evidence.

I still jump, when Mrs. Principled and little Miss Principled let me. I've got 54 jumps.