At a Glance
- Parachutist tangled in netting behind a goal post during the Armed Forces Bowl pre-game ceremony in Fort Worth, fell ~30 ft but walked away with no injuries.
- No injuries reported; parachutist walked away.
- All Veteran Group performed jump; winds were tricky; other jumpers landed safely.
- Why it matters: Highlights safety protocols at sporting events and the role of veteran skydiver teams.
On Friday, a parachutist performing for the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth nearly fell 30 feet when his chute became caught in netting behind a goal post. The incident, captured on video, caused no injuries as the skydiver walked away.
Incident Details
The event took place at Amon G. Carter Stadium, home of TCU, during the pre-game ceremony for the Rice vs. Texas State bowl. Video shows the skydiver, carrying a U.S. Navy flag, getting hung up on netting behind the goal post. His lines drew sharply back above the post, suspending him before the chute collapsed and he fell about 30 ft to the ground.
The fall occurred in the crowd-free zone behind the end zone, and the parachutist landed without a scratch.
- Fell ~30 ft, walked away, no injury.
- Second parachutist landed safely outside, veered off due to wind.
- Three other jumpers landed without incident.
Group and Comments
The jump was performed by All Veteran Group, a veteran skydiving team with more than 100,000 combined jumps that performs at over 150 events annually. Mike Elliott, the group’s president, said the winds were troublesome and that none of the jumpers were injured. He posted on Facebook:
> “Today, the winds were a little tricky, and one of the jumpers kind of got behind the power curve. He did the best he could do. He did not land in the crowd. He did land behind the goalpost, but without a scratch. He walked away,”
He added that the All Veteran Group was 100% injury-free. Drew Harris, director of the Armed Forces Bowl, said the parachutist walked away and that no one in the crowd behind the end zone was injured. He added that a second parachutist landed safely outside the stadium after veering off due to wind.
| Jumper | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fell ~30 ft, walked away | No injury |
| 2 | Landed safely outside | Wind veered |
| 3-5 | Landed safely | No incident |
The incident underscores the importance of safety measures during live events and the continued participation of veteran skydivers in community displays.
Key Takeaways
- Parachutist fell ~30 ft but walked away with no injuries.
- All Veteran Group performed the jump; winds were tricky.
- No injuries reported among spectators or jumpers.
While the fall was a close call, the swift response and robust safety protocols ensured everyone remained unharmed.
