Skydiver death inquiries continue

Press, 2 June 1982, Page 2

Skydiver death inquiries continue

Christchurch. detectives are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a young woman skydiver at Motukarara on Sunday, but there had been no major development by last evening. Miss Bridget Hindson, aged 18. was killed after both her main and reserve parachutes failed to open. It was her first jump. \ The officer in charge of the police inquiry, Detective Senior-Sergeant R. A. Meikle, said that detectives had to interview a number of people, including those who were in the aircraft when Miss Hindson jumped. “We are still looking at whether the proper procedures were followed and whether there was malfunction in the equipment," said Mr Meikle. Experts from the Civil Aviation Division and the Parachute Federation had found no equipment faults so far, but they were still examining a barometic pressure switch. The switch is supposed to activate automatically and release the canopy at a given altitude should both the static line and ripcord fail, or the jumper be unconscious. Police inquiries would continue today, said Mr Meikle.