Wingsuit Skydivers Seek Record, One Injured

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Skydivers from 21 countries flew a massive 100-person wingsuit diamond formation, near Perris, Calif., Monday, that will be submitted to Guinness as a world record, but not all participants escaped the effort without injury. The skydivers used five different aircraft, jumping from an altitude of 13,000 feet over Perris Valley. Successive attempts were observed by three judges who represented the U.S. Parachute Association and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. During one attempt involving 98 skydivers, Sunday, two of the participants collided after opening their chutes. Though both landed under reserve canopies, one was reportedly hospitalized and unconscious, Tuesday.

After performing their freefall work, the formation broke. When chutes opened, Russian participant Irina Sinitsina and a male skydiver collided while under canopy. The parachute of the male skydiver entangled Sinitina and he jettisoned that chute, safely deploying, and landing under, his reserve. Sinitsina’s main chute had not collapsed as a result of the entanglement but she was trailing the other skydiver’s collapsed chute and elected to jettison her canopy to clear both mains and land under her reserve. The reserve opened properly but reportedly left Sinitsina turning at an altitude of roughly 400 feet.Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, manager of Perris Valley Skydiving, told local news that upon landing, Sinistra’s body fell forward and her head struck the ground.

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