A skydiver managed to survive a fall in the Nevada Desert after both of his parachutes failed, plunging from 11,000 feet and causing serious injuries to his pelvis.
Mitchell Deakin, a 25-year-old from the UK, was participating in a tandem jump with his instructor when neither the main parachute nor the emergency chute deployed correctly, leading to a chaotic descent.
Authorities reported that they hit the ground at speeds between 35 and 45 mph, as detailed by the Las Vegas Journal Review.
Both were then airlifted to a medical facility in Las Vegas for urgent care.
Deakin had traveled to the U.S. to celebrate his birthday with a skydive at Jean Airport in Clark County on September 17.
He sustained multiple injuries, including a broken pelvis and rib, a perforated lung, as well as damage to a kidney, according to a GoFundMe page set up by his girlfriend, Isabelle Cracker, for his medical costs.
“This is a very traumatic experience for him and his family because he is so far from home,” Cracker shared in the fundraiser.
His instructor, Jiron Arcos Ponce, 54, was reportedly in serious condition last Thursday.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the American Parachute Association.
A fellow skydiving instructor mentioned that the parachute “didn’t function as well as it should have,” as noted in the LVMP report.
The LVMP has deferred additional comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Neither the FAA nor the USPA responded right away to inquiries.
Last week, Deakin’s mother provided an update on his condition, mentioning he had begun walking again with assistance. She expressed concern as he discovered more internal fractures in his back, ribs, and pelvis than previously known, although they were indicated to be stable and healing.
She conveyed appreciation for the hospital staff and support from family and friends during this challenging time.
