Australian Skydiver Frees Self from Snagged Reserve Chute

A skydiver in Australia narrowly escaped serious injury on September 20 when his reserve parachute snagged on an aircraft's wing flap during a planned formation jump, leaving him suspended 15,000 feet above the ground before he cut himself free midair. The incident occurred over Tully in Queensland's Far North region, involving a Cessna Caravan carrying a pilot and 17 parachutists from the Far North Freefall Club.

The group had ascended to the jump altitude for a 16-way formation maneuver, with a 17th parachutist positioned at the open door to film the event. As Adrian Ferguson, the first to exit, climbed out, the handle for his reserve parachute caught on the wing flap, causing an unintended deployment. The canopy inflated abruptly, yanking him backward and slamming his legs into the plane's horizontal stabilizer. The force also dislodged the camera operator, sending that individual into free fall.

Ferguson's reserve chute then wrapped around the tailplane, suspending him beneath the aircraft as it continued flying. While 13 other parachutists jumped safely, two remained in the doorway observing. Ferguson, equipped with a hook knife, severed 11 lines from the tangled reserve,...