Skydiving Accident Caught On Camera In Pennsylvania (VIDEO)

An unexpected updraft sent a woman and her instructor crashing to the ground in a freak skydiving accident caught on camera over the weekend.

When the unidentified woman took her first dive at the Keystone Skydive Center in Collegeville, nothing led her to believe she was in danger. She was in tandem with her instructor, Chad Galbraith, and most of the dive ran smoothly.

But at about 30 feet above the ground, the wind compromised the parachute, according to WPVI. An updraft caught the parachute and yanked the pair up another 40 feet.

"All of a sudden, the updraft stopped and the wind came from the side. It folded the parachute underneath and put the parachute into a spin," said Marc Nadeau, a worker at the skydive center.
"They landed hard on their side into the grass and were dragged into the runway. At that time the instructor was able to jettison -- cut away -- the main parachute to keep themselves from being dragged any further."

Galbraith was taken to the hospital with a serious lower back injury and underwent two surgeries this week. The first-time jumper -- whose name the station did not release -- sustained cracked ribs and a collapsed lung.

Both are expected to fully recover from the crash.

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Comments

[remlap]

10:49 AM on 05/20/2012

Where is the video you headline liars? You said there was video. "Skydiving accident caught on camera" ...yet i don't see it. Maybe if the video were posted people would think twice before doing this and it would prevent others from ending up in the ICU.

[lensamy]

09:20 AM on 05/19/2012

I dont want to watch the video. Im just glad they are ok.

[special38x2]

09:15 PM on 05/18/2012

ouch...

[Chandler Windham]

01:10 PM on 05/18/2012

This is why i will never Skydive.

[Jenr Galbraith]

11:28 AM on 05/18/2012

Hello all, I saw all the posts angry about not having full video. Can someone explain exactly why they'd want to see a couple of healthy people have their parachute turned into shit by a freak thermal activity, watch them both break? Why watch a mother break in front of her daughter (who, despite being a young teen, was the first to call 911 and relayed information calmly to the operator to ensure fast help to both)? Why watch a man break is back very badly, because he put his student's life in front of his own and positioned himself to take the worst of the impact?

I have not seen all of the video, and I was not at the scene, as I was in the emergency room for a bad knee injury. My husband is remarkable. He saved them both. He now lies in ICU, in extreme pain, due to a broken back. He has a long battle in front of him, and he has never complained, maintains a great sense of humor, and does not consider himself a hero (even though all of us know he is one).

I am proud of my husband Chad. And I am glad there is not full video out there just for some sick people to get their kicks watching other people's lives change in an instant.

Jennifer Galbraith

[special38x2]

09:22 PM on 05/18/2012

Jen, my condolences and prayers are with you and your family and all others having to get through this. If I can share one warped perspective...most of us find that jumping out of a perfectly good airplane without need is over the top risk taking behavior, someone else's tragedy (in this case not fatal) helps reassure us that we're making the right choice for ourselves....For other's that like to do risky things it might be a good learning video or one that spells out the what real consequences - perhaps different choices might be made & purposeless injury avoided. Best wishes on recovery for all.

[Jen Galbraith]

05:19 PM on 05/19/2012

You really need a video to say skydiving is risky? Come on, you can't be that silly. Other risks include driving a car, eating rare steak, and a host of other things. Life is all about risk management and risk/benefit ratio management. I read your note to Chad and asked if he felt that he had a 'purposeless injury' or if knowing this would happen to him, he regretted jumping. He looked at me like I was nuts. He in a heartbeat would have jumped to begin with, and is working hard to regain what he lost so he can continue to jump when he heals. Just because you may not understand what we gain from skydiving... the community, the family, the freedom, the sense of accomplishment, or how this sport has taught us to appreciate life, to grow as people, and has given us far more than we ever thought possible in life. That doesn't mean it's right for you or anyone else. I'm not interested in golf, it doesn't make me less of a person. You're not interested in skydiving, same thing. Watching a video of two people breaking wouldn't change that.

[ewalter899]

11:36 PM on 05/17/2012

I can't see why anyone would want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

[killrmoose27]

07:00 PM on 05/17/2012

When you jump out of a plane, you're in IMMEDIANT DANGER. I wouldn't trust my life to a parachute.

[brokerthanu]

11:38 PM on 05/17/2012

Okay, I'll take the parachute, you can jump without it.

[mww1017]

03:33 PM on 05/17/2012

When the unidentified woman took her first dive at the Keystone Skydive Center in Collegeville, nothing led her to believe she was in danger,
Didn't believe she was in danger, hmm, she jumped out of a plane for petes' sake! I know people do it all the time, but that doesn't make it safe. One should never believe that unexpected things "won't happen to me". She is very lucky to have survived with relatively minor injuries. I hope she recovers fully and lives a long happy life. Though I'd advise against jumping out of perfectly good airplanes in level flight with plenty of fuel.

[special38x2]

05:42 PM on 05/19/2012

Apparently those in tight skydiving circles worry not about the dangers and are willing to risk their lives for the momentary thrill - personnally showing a complete video like the one not shown here would offer an upclose-in-your face potential outcome during any consent process. Obviously she was helped to believe it was not dangerous...because that is the culture.

[CUTELOVINGIRL]

02:17 PM on 05/17/2012

I THINK DAN RATHER WAS THE FIRST TO WARN US ABOUT THE TERRORISM SCHOOLS GOING ON OVER SEAS BEFORE WE WERE ATTACKED>YEARS BEFORE WE WERE ATTACKED. PEACE AND LOVE TO THE WORLD.

[CUTELOVINGIRL]

02:14 PM on 05/17/2012

PS ON THE RATHER

[CUTELOVINGIRL]

02:08 PM on 05/17/2012

I also would like to comment on the DAN RATHER VIDEO. im not sure how to get to his comment section.. Well, heres to you dan! sence a child in high school I did reports on Dan Rather,and Always got an A+ on them! and I always have seen truth and justice in the guy. he is a hero! he is a good man. he put himself in the heart of danger to give us the guts of the truth. thank you dan,I LOVE YOU

[buminthesun421]

01:55 PM on 05/17/2012

So... where was the video of the accident..??

[ThinkCreeps]

03:55 PM on 05/17/2012

I guess the thud-scrape bit was considered too graphic for the delicate audience.

[CUTELOVINGIRL]

01:53 PM on 05/17/2012

again!

[Pistola]

01:05 PM on 05/17/2012

I thought it was filmed? Huff you suck.

[safety1srt]

12:46 PM on 05/17/2012

And she said she will do it again? Well , wish her the best,and do not forget to increase ur medical policy rates, u will needed

[kahunacook]

05:54 PM on 05/17/2012

Perhaps her family might want to up her life insurance policy too.

[special38x2]

09:24 PM on 05/18/2012

I'm shocked they can get medical or life coverage when engaging in something like this.