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The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: thundley4 on August 01, 2011, 07:34:37 PM

Title: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: thundley4 on August 01, 2011, 07:34:37 PM
Quote
KALISPELL - Investigators have ruled that a quadriplegic man who fell to his death Saturday while skydiving near Marion died accidentally as a result of his paralysis, and not due to equipment failure.
Zack Fogle, 27, of Kingston, Wash., died Saturday afternoon when his parachute did not open following an airplane jump over the Lost Prairie jump zone near Marion, about 30 miles west of Kalispell. Fogle was among a large group of skydivers participating in the annual Lost Prairie Skydiving Boogie.
According to Flathead County Undersheriff Jordan White, Fogle had limited use of his extremities due to his paralysis and was using a custom-built skydiving rig that allowed him to release the parachutes without assistance.
A licensed skydiver with about five years of experience and more than 125 jumps, Fogle had lived as a quadriplegic since a car accident left him paralyzed 10 years ago, White said. Since then, he had finished high school, graduated college and learned to skydive.
"This was just an amazing young man who had accomplished some unimaginable feats," White said. "He was very passionate about skydiving."
The undersheriff said Fogle fell to his death around 2 p.m. Saturday during his first jump of the day. He had numerous tickets for additional jumps in his pocket.


Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/6a37a506-bc50-11e0-9eac-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1TpLz5FxZ

 :wtf2:
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: Rugnuts on August 01, 2011, 07:58:54 PM
skydiving discriminates against the handicapped. BAN IT!
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: NHSparky on August 01, 2011, 08:05:01 PM
Okay, I'll say it.  Anyone here REALLY surprised he bit off more than he could chew?

And solo skydiving?  Not in his case.  Tandem I can see, not this.
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: Thor on August 02, 2011, 12:36:51 AM
There ARE altimeters that will automatically open the chute at a predetermined altitude.
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: NHSparky on August 02, 2011, 07:51:24 AM
There ARE altimeters that will automatically open the chute at a predetermined altitude.

I know, which makes this all the more surprising that he didn't have one as a backup.

But I know if I were quadriplegic and went skydiving, I'd probably be doing the tandem thing, but hey, call me overly cautious.
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: Wineslob on August 02, 2011, 09:39:55 AM
Quote
The undersheriff said Fogle fell to his death around 2 p.m. Saturday during his first jump of the day. He had numerous tickets for additional jumps in his pocket.






Ummmm, think about it...................
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on August 02, 2011, 11:22:56 AM
A quadriplegic skydiving?  Wow, what could possibly go wrong?

 :whatever:
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: AllosaursRus on August 02, 2011, 12:17:00 PM
There ARE altimeters that will automatically open the chute at a predetermined altitude.

That's what I was thinkin' when they mentioned he could open his chute unassisted. Apparently not!

A quadriplegic skydiving?  Wow, what could possibly go wrong?

 :whatever:

Wonder what his DU name was? This rates right up there for the Darwin Award!
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: JohnnyReb on August 02, 2011, 05:50:09 PM
A quadriplegic skydiving?  Wow, what could possibly go wrong?

 :whatever:

Can't think of a thing myself.

ETA: If he was a Quadriplegic, who pushed/threw/dropped him out of the airplane?
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: thundley4 on August 02, 2011, 06:05:24 PM
Can't think of a thing myself.

ETA: If he was a Quadriplegic, who pushed/threw/dropped him out of the airplane?

He may have been murdered?
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: JohnnyReb on August 02, 2011, 06:19:20 PM
He may have been murdered?

I was wondering if he had insurance....and who was going to get the money.
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: debk on August 02, 2011, 07:39:37 PM
He may have been murdered?

Maybe he planned what happen.

He'd been a quad for 10 years, since he was 17.

If I was in his condition, and I'd already put 10 years in, and was looking at another 20-50 years living like he did...I'm not sure what I would do if the opportunity came available to end it all doing something I enjoyed.

For those few minutes when he was able to sky-dive, he was free of his restrictions. He was like anybody else up there free floating around in the sky. It had to be very difficult to have to get back into a wheel chair, and not be like the others who picked themselves up off the ground and walked off.

Yeah, I'd think about one of these times, when I'm up there floating....just might be the time to quit.
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on August 03, 2011, 08:09:55 AM
True enough Deb, that thought crossed my mind as well.
Title: Re: Quadriplegic skydiver's paralysis likely led to fatal free-fall
Post by: JohnnyReb on August 03, 2011, 05:40:05 PM
Can't think of a thing myself.

ETA: If he was a Quadriplegic, who pushed/threw/dropped him out of the airplane?

Obamacare assisted suicide?