FALL INTO WATER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 14 July 1936, Page 2

FALL INTO WATER

PARACHUTE MISHAP. CAUGHT BY STRONG WIND. AUCKLAND, July 13. In the grip ot a strong southerly wind, Mr G. W. Sellars, descending by parachute from a height of 500011. at Mangere yesterday, was carried beyond the aerodrome and fell into an arm of Manukau Harbour, whence he was rescued by the owner of a nearby bach, Mr Colin Towers, in a dinghy. A crowd of about 5000 people saw the mishap. . When the ’plane, piloted by FlightLieutenant D. M. Allan, the club instructor, took off from the aerodrome, a strong south-west wind was blowing, but when Mr Sellars leaped from the wing 15 minutes later, and, alter a short drop, opened his parachute, lie found that the wind at that altitude was much stronger than it had been at ground level and was blowing from due south. With his hands so stiffened by. the cold that he could not haul with any strength on the shrouds of his parachute, to spill air and bring, himself down towards the aerodrome, Mr Sellars wa.s carried northward oyer the western boundary of the landing ground. Only when he came below IOOOft. and was about half a mile beyond the hangar did the parachutist come into the region of the south-west wind. It be ing. apparent by then that ho could not bring himself down on tho aerodrome side of the creek, Mr Sellars released his second parachute, hoping that with two open he would he floated over the water to the far bank. The speed of his descent was not, however, sufficient to open tho parachute and lie drop]>ed with a big splash into the water, between two banks of mangroves. . The wind in tho open chute towed him at a smart pace along the surface of tho water, with the unopened one towing behind him, until he unbuckled liis harness and let them go. lie found a footing in the mud of the creek bed, and stood up to his armpits in water until Mr Towers, who had crossed to the aerodrome in his dinghy and was about 600 yards away, rowed to his rescue. After the two parachutes had been salvaged, Mr Towers rowed Mr Sellars to the aerodrome side ol the creek, whence he was taken back to the hangar by motor car. As both parachutes were sodden, Mr .Sellars was imable to make a second descent, although ho himself was none the worse for the “dip.” ... . By a curious coincidence, this was his 13th descent at Mangere, and the only time that he has been injured m over 50 jumps was when he made hjs 13th after receiving his parchutist s license. This happened at Pahiatua. when, through spilling air from his parachute when too near the ground, he landed heavily and sprained his ankle. It would hardly be tactful, however, to adduce this in support of the superstition that 13 is an unlucky number, as Mr Sellars is now engaged to tiie young lady who nursed him.during the 12 days that he had to spend in bed while his ankle mended.