Skydive tragedy an accident

The death of a skydiver who suffered multiple injuries when a parachute display at a Shropshire country fair went wrong was an accident, an inquest ruled.

Iain Firkins, 28, died in hospital after he crashed into the ground in front of hundreds of spectators during his landing at the British Falconry and Raptor Show at Chetwynd Park, Newport, on May 6.

An inquest in Telford yesterday heard Mr Firkins, from Willand, near Cullompton, Devon, was jumping with three other members of the Icarus Parachute Display Team at 3,000ft.

Jurors were told although Mr Firkins had completed more than 880 parachute jumps, he had only made three display jumps and the jump on May 6 was his first with the Icarus team.

They heard British Parachute Association rules state that to take part in a display jump, skydivers must have what is known as sufficient "currency". To meet the currency standards, skydivers must have completed a minimum of 10 descents in the previous three months.

They heard Mr Firkins's logbook showed he had only jumped six times in the five-and-a-half months prior to his death.

Ray Brewer, Icarus team leader, admitted at the inquest he was responsible for checking logbooks.

John Page, British Parachute Association vice-chairman, said Mr Firkins had died because he had made a hook turn at too low an altitude. He revealed Mr Brewer would face a BPA disciplinary tribunal over the logbook issue.

The jurors returned a narrative verdict and said Mr Firkins's death was an accident exacerbated by a failure to comply with BPA manual instructions and his lack of currency, exhibited by his flight path and behaviour in the existing weather conditions.