FALL TO DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 16

FALL TO DEATH

YOUNG PARACHUTIST GIPPSLAND FATALITY 1000 HORRIFIED SPECTATORS [FROM OUR OWX CORRESPONDENT] MELBOURNE, April 7 Before the eyes of about 1000 horri* fied men, women and children at Ynrrarn, Gippsland, on Sunday afternoon, Sholto Colin Cathels, aged 19 years, dropped 2500 ft. to his death when his parachute failed to open. Tlw? youth, a resident of Portland, Western Victoria, was attached to Captain Keith Farmer's "air circus" and was taking part in a special pageant arranged by the circus at Mann's Beach, Yarram. In his career as a parachutist he had made almost 100 descents.

At 4.10 p.m. Cathels ascended in an aeroplane to make a delayed parachute drop over the beach. At a height of about 2500 ft. he appeared on the wing of the machine and leaped off as it swooped in a sharp bank. "He's off," called an announcer in the crowd. The announcer began to count the seconds, but at the call of "13" he stopped. He and the other watchers . realised that the parachute would not open. Distance Probably Mistimed

Cathels plunged down with the parachute whipping like a small white ball above him. The watchers could see his frantic,- efforts to shake the parachute free before he fell into marshy land near a swamp of mangroves. He was killed instantly and his body was found buried in about 3ft. of earth. Officials had covered the body with a parachute by the time the crowd reached the scene. The people immediately left for their homes, and the aeroplane from which Cathels had made his fatal leap was grounded at once. The rest of the programme was cancelled. Last vear Cathels designed a special suit of silk clothing with bat-like wings. He had hopes of becoming Australia's first "bird-man," but he had never actually made a jump in the suit. The parachute used by Cathels will be examined by the Air Accidents Investigation Committee. It has been suggested that Cathels, in attempting a delayed drop, mistimed the distance he had fallen and pulled the ripcord too late. Departmental Regulations Broken An officer of the Civil Aviation Department said that three departmental regulations had been broken by Cathels —he wore only one parachute, whereas the regulations provide that two should be worn for intended jumps; he did not apply for permission to make the descent; and, it is believed, lie packed the parachute himself, whereas it should have been packed by someone licensed for the purpose. It has been urged that greater supervision of aerial circuses and proprietors of "joy-ride" aeroplanes should be exercised by the department, and that every effort should be made to ensure that* all safety regulations are rigidly complied with.