An expert parachutist died in a 1,200-foot fall in Florida after he was suddenly yanked from an airplane when his reserve chute accidentally opened.
The Ocala Star Banner said the incident happened at the Marion County Airport in Dunnellon on Friday afternoon.
The victim, who the Marion County Sheriff's Office did not identify, reportedly had completed more than 100 military-style jumps. He was with a group on the airplane and was considered a "master jumper," noted the sheriff's Facebook Page.
The sheriff's office said it contacted about 5:30 p.m.
"According to witnesses in the plane, the victim was kneeling by the jump door when his reserve chute accidentally deployed and pulled him from the aircraft," said the sheriff's office. "Witnesses say the victim hit the side of the plane and then fell to the ground. It is unclear at this time if his military-style parachute fully deployed."
The victim was pronounced dead after paramedics arrived on the scene.
The Star Banner said the sheriff's office didn't release any more information about the group on the plane or details about the military-style parachuting.
However, sheriff's spokeswoman Valerie Strong told the Orlando Sentinel that the victim helped train others in military techniques.
The Sentinel said that in military parachuting, jumpers are connected to a static line and the parachute opens automatically. That method is used by paratroopers and some novice skydivers.
According to the U.S. Army, a master parachutist medal is earned by participating in 65 jumps, including 25 jumps with combat equipment; four night jumps, five mass tactical jumps, along with other requirements.
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