Skydiver falls to death east of Lake Tahoe in the Carson Valley

By Andrew Pridgen, Nevada Appeal
March 23, 2008

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A 30-year-old skydiver fell to his death Easter Sunday in Carson Valley while parachuting with three other jumpers.

The man's chute did open according to Billy Sharman, an instructor with Skydive Tahoe who witnessed the accident, which occurred shortly after 2 p.m.

"The parachute was open, it was just spinning after it was open," Sharman said. "It's not something we can say for sure. But it looks like he didn¹t do anything wrong. The canopy opened - this guy was an experienced jumper - it's just one of those things that happened."

The Nevada Appeal is not identifying the victim pending notification of his next of kin.

The Douglas Sheriff¹s Office did not have an official comment at press time Sunday, though one spokesman noted an investigation had been started.

According to eyewitnesses, The victim was given CPR shortly after impact, but the effort did not revive the parachutist.

"We don¹t know, can¹t say, but it was probably pretty instant," Sharman said.