Tragic Skydiving Accident Claims Lives of Two Experienced Divers

Two seasoned skydivers tragically lost their lives after their parachutes collided in mid-air.

Hermes Zampa, 70, and Violetta Raiquechon, 63, both died on the spot.

Hermes had over 30 years of skydiving experience, with more than 2,000 jumps under his belt, and he was actively serving as a skydiving instructor.

Violetta, originally from Brazil and now residing in Italy, had completed an impressive 6,000 jumps.

The incident occurred on December 14th in Fano, located south of Venice, Italy.

According to reports, they were part of a larger group of 14 paratroopers who jumped that morning.

Hermes made the first jump, while Violetta jumped last. However, during the final descent, at approximately 30 meters from the ground, their parachutes became entangled, leading to a loss of lift.

“Someone at the airfield recorded the descent of the paratroopers,” noted Roberto Mascio, director of Skydive Fano.

He stated that the authorities have obtained the video.

“The footage revealed the two canopies making contact before collapsing,” Mascio explained. “In situations like this, you’re often too close to the ground to react effectively, leaving you with very little time.”

He described the few seconds between the entanglement and impact as a rapid and devastating chain of events.

“I knew both Violetta and Hermes for quite some time, and it’s incredibly sorrowful to witness this tragedy,” he added. “They had countless jumps to their names—Violetta with over 6,000 and Hermes with more than 2,000, and he had been their instructor as well.”

Mascio mentioned that the cause of the accident might be linked to human error, which has become more prevalent in recent incidents.

“Lately, many accidents stem from momentary distractions; it’s easy to lose awareness of how close you are to another parachute,” he observed. “And it can leave you helpless when you’re in a jam.”

He recalled a similar accident that took place two years ago in Reggio Emilia, also involving instructors.

“This loss resonates deeply with both the Fano community and those involved in skydiving,” he remarked.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident, examining video footage and speaking with witnesses.