Army commando injured in free fall parachute jump

[koniyakutz]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin.../157122/1/.html

SINGAPORE : An Army commando was seriously injured when he lost control of his parachute during the free fall performance at the National Day Parade rehearsal on Saturday.

According to the Defence Ministry, 36-year-old Master Sergeant Chua Koon San had a hard landing during the rehearsal at the Padang at 6.15pm.

He was immediately evacuated to the Singapore General Hospital.

Mindef says his condition is stable.

According to Channel NewsAsia's video footage, prior to his landing, the freefaller appeared to have drifted from his intended course.

He then landed between the stage and the spectator stands at the corner of the Padang nearest the Esplanade.

Master Sergeant Chua, a veteran of some 800 freefall jumps, is now in the intensive care unit at SGH.

He is understood to have sustained injuries from the waist down, but is said to be recovering.

An eyewitness at the Padang described what she saw.

Chitra Veerapathiran, Teacher, Woodlands Ring Primary School, said: "This person was right above us. He came down all the way really fast and crashed onto the ground. He didn't move...we were very stunned at first, we were very worried and we didn't know what happened to him. As soon as he landed, all the medical officers came.They were huddled around him for a while and took him away on a stretcher after that." - CNA /ch

[AhLoon]

I guessed even the most experienced make mistakes...

[XPeriment 626]

He came down really fast... must have lost control at the last moment

[koniyakutz]

Heard on the news that both his legs are broken.

[XPeriment 626]

Heard on the news that both his legs are broken.

[daimy068]

Was there with my pupils! Everyone gasped as he landed on his side!

Think the cross winds also had a part to play in the accident, could see him pulling on his toggle desperately trying to control his descent and direction at the same time!

Thank God he's in stable condition. When he was lying there everyone suspected that he had sustained quite a serious injury.

Hope he'll recover soon.

[XPeriment 626]

Was there with my pupils! Everyone gasped as he landed on his side!

Think the cross winds also had a part to play in the accident, could see him pulling on his toggle desperately trying to control his descent and direction at the same time!

Thank God he's in stable condition. When he was lying there everyone suspected that he had sustained quite a serious injury.

Hope he'll recover soon.

yeah was there too. He landed near blue sector and I was in red sector so couldn't see him after he hit the ground... pray that he will recover to full mobility and bodily functions... a fall like that could result in paralysis...