LEAP TO DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 8

LEAP TO DEATH.

NORWEGIAN PARACHUTIST. SHOCKING OAMARU TRAGEDY SEVERAL SPECTATORS FAINT.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Lieutenant Haakon Q'viller, the Norwegian parachutist, - was killed at Oamaru on Saturday when his parachute failed to open-after he had jumped from a 'plane at an altitude .which was variously estimated at from 3000 ft to 5000 ft. The parachutist was performing what was advertised as a "spectacular death-defying stunt" before a crowd of 1400 persons in a large, paddock near the racecourse in aid of the funds of the Aero Club.

The programme commenced with air stunting by Captain White, and. when Lieutenant* Q'viller entered the machine Captain White circled five times.to gain height. When at a high altitude, Lieutenant Q'viller said tc the pilot:— I think this one will be .all right," and leaped: clear of the aeroplane.

When the parachute failed to open the spectators did not realise they, were witnessing a tragedy, but thought the delayed opening was part of the demonstration. As Lieutenant Q'viller neared the ground, however, with the parachute still closed, it became obvious that something was seriously wrong. •

A spectator in the field close to the spot where Lieutenant Q'viller dropped says he saw the" parachutist frantically endeavouring to open tlie upper portion of the apparatus when within 200 yards of the ground.. He then appeared to lose consciousness or give up hope. His body struck the earth with a terrific thud about one mile from the place where the aeroplane took off. Several of those among the spectators fainted.

So great was the force of the fall from such.a height that the thud was heard a considerable distance away. The Waitaki ambulance, which wae on the scene, was summoned to the spot where the parachutist .had fallen, but he was dead. Practically every bone in his body was broken. ' . ''..''■"

After Lieutenant Q'viller left the machine Captain White circled to see if everything was all right, and was also deceived by the delayed opening. When he saw that a tragedy was inevitable he made a rapid and skilful landing close to the spot where *he body lay, and was'one of the first, to reach his dead comrade. .

Captain White informed an interviewer that this was the first time Lieutenant Q'viller had jumped from his machine: After lunch on Saturday the deceased opened the parachute and tested it thoroughly, taking one hour and threequarters over the job. Captain White expected to see the parachute open 500 ft after leaving the aeroplane. Upon examining the parachute after the accident, he was of the opinion that the spinning of the body drew the cords together and tightened them.