Soldier lands safely after skydive instructor dies

This story is crazy, and might be better titled "How to tell when you have used up the rest of your entire life's luck."

CHESTER, S.C. — A Georgia-based soldier says his military training helped him land safely on his first skydiving jump after the instructor strapped to his back died from an apparent heart attack.

Daniel Pharr says he knew something was wrong when George Steele stopped answering his questions after their parachute deployed Saturday afternoon above South Carolina. They jumped from 13,500 feet.

Pharr says he didn't panic because of his Army training, and he knew from watching television to use the parachute toggles to steer.

The 25-year-old, stationed at Fort Gordon, Ga., says the nonmilitary jump was a Christmas gift from his girlfriend.

Pharr says he tried unsuccessfully to revive Steele with CPR when they landed.

Comments

  1. Man, I saw that story yesterday. This guy doesn't get enough risk in the Army, he thinks adding skydiving to the mix is a good idea? Whew.

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  2. $10 he dumped his girlfriend after this "gift".

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  3. See. Always carry a cell phone in case you're in danger and need to call for help.

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  4. This dude kept his cool. That is what the Army teaches. keep your cool! because remember, We have the Nukes!

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  5. another reason for me not to skydive

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  6. I don't get it.. why do people jump out of a perfectly good, no crashing, non-dire straits plane on purpose?

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  7. You've got to love that guy. Talk about keeping a cool head under pressure. Absolutely amazing. I hope the bummer of a gift doesn't haunt his relationship though. Yeesh.

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  8. Anonymous12:58 PM

    I'd guess that girlfriend is getting coal in her stocking this year.

    Or maybe some arsenic.

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  9. I cannot imagine jumping from a plane with a DEAD man strapped to my back.

    Needless to say not a high point in his life, I hope he didn't buy the video

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  10. That would have been my cue to purchase the largest plastic bubble in the world and promptly begin living in it.

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  11. Anonymous2:14 PM

    When I went tandem skydiving, my biggest worry was that the instructor would feel me up mid-air. Great - now I have another thing to worry about.

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  12. Anonymous5:02 PM

    Yeah, but did the dead guy crap his pants after expiring?

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