DASH TO DEATH.
PARACHUTE FAILS TO OPEN. TRAGEDY AT OAM ABU. MANY HORRIFIED SPECTATORS. OAMARU, May 3. In full view of 1400 horrified spectators the Norwegian parachutist, Haakon Quiller, 35, dashed to death from a ’plane piloted by Oapt. White, at an altitude of 5400 ft., on Saturday afternoon during a demonstration in aid of the formation of a local aero club. The machine rose from a paddock near the racecourse and circled five times to gain altitude. Quiller jumped clear of the machine and when the parachute failed to open the crowd thought it part of the demonstration. TO within two hundred feet of the ground Quiller fought frantically to open the parachute. He then appeared to lose consciousness. The impact was so terrific that the body was literally smashed to pieces. Captain White is of the opinion that the swinging of the body drew the cords together end tightened them. ' Quiller’s last words on leaving the -plane were: “I think this one will be Kll right/’ The deceased was a native < f Oslo, Norway, and had no relatives in New Zealand.—(P.A.)
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Bibliographic details
Wairarapa Age, 4 May 1931, Page 5
Word Count
183DASH TO DEATH. Wairarapa Age, 4 May 1931, Page 5
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