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Skydiver describes moment of terror at 2,400ft
SO LUCKY: Paul with helmet cam
THE miracle skydiver who plunged 10,000ft and landed on a roof when his parachute failed to open, today reveals the dramatic details of his death-defying fall for the first time.
And lucky Paul Lewis, 40, has given the News of the World the FULL TERRIFYING FILM shot from the camera on his helmet as he plummeted to what he believed was certain doom.
"I didn't shout out goodbye Mum or goodbye Dad, or anything like that. I just looked at the ground and quite calmly said, 'It's all over'," revealed Paul, whose astonishing video can be seen here. "And then I shut my my eyes - and blacked out."
Moments after that he slammed into the corrugated iron roof of an aeroplane hangar. Incredibly, he survived with just a dislocated neck, severe bruising and nerve damage in his left arm. And now he's vowed never to jump out of a plane again.
"I'm a very lucky man," said Paul, whose main and reserve chutes BOTH opened in a useless tangle. "I'm not scared. But when you have walked away from what I have walked away from you know its time to quit."
Watch the video
Skydiver falls 10,000ft without chute and lives
The skydive cameraman revealed how everything seemed normal when he took off in the Gippsland Airvan plane to film novice Haf Pugh, 25, on her first tandem jump with instructor and friend Martin Wilshaw. The plane climbed to 10,000ft above The Parachute Centre, at Tilstock, near Whitchurch, Shropshire.
"Haf sat on Martin's legs and they were tightened up," said Paul. "I jumped slightly first and Haf and Martin followed a split second after. We were in freefall and the camera on my helmet was running.
10,000FT: Paul starts filming instructor Martin and tandem jumper Haf at doorway of plane
"Martin deployed a small five to six foot parachute called a drouge which stabilises both the tandem jumpers.
"I was facing them a few yards away. They were both waving . . . there was lots of fun going on.
Snatch
"We were falling at 120mph. It's the thrill of a lifetime."
Then at about 5,500ft Martin deployed his parachute. He gave me a wave-off so I knew he was going to pull his main chute," said Paul.
"It was a beautiful deployment with great shots of Haf as the parachute opened. They were floating gently to the ground."
But Paul's nightmare was about to begin. "I continued freefall for 8-10 seconds. At 3,600 feet I pulled the main parachute. It came out with a snatch. I was in a spin. I looked up and saw a twist . . . but that is not uncommon," said Paul. "Jumpers are taught how to sort out twists. You kick them out. But this time it was too violent to kick out. I decided immediately to cut it away."
Paul pulled a cutaway pad to disconnect the main chute and pulled the handle to release his reserve canopy. He was now at only 2,900ft.
2,900FT: In spin after reserve chute gets tangled
"I looked up hoping to see a beautiful light blue French parachute Techno 128. But I didn't," said Paul. "It was inflated but to my astonishment I had more and more twists. It was very violent. I was horrified - this was my last hope.
"I had packed my jump parachute which I have done over 120 times. My reserve canopy had been packed by an advanced packer, Dave Major, a great guy who I trust all the way.
"I don't know why it had twisted - I will never know. It was spinning me round and round. I had no control. I was using so much upper body strength struggling to try and kick out the twists.
"But the spinning was so fast I was getting dizzy. My head was forced back. Blood was rushing to my feet. My feet were tingling - I remember that.
2,400FT: Heading for hangar roof
"Then I lost all my upper body strength. I looked at the ground. That was the first time I felt fear. Within seconds, at about 2,000 feet, I blacked out. Looking back, I am so glad I did."
After a 15-second fight to free his parachute, railway signalman Paul crash landed on the roof of the hangar. Luckily, he landed AWAY from girders supporting the corrugated sheets and hit the most springy part of the metal.
Rescuers are convicted that this saved his life. "I felt no impact," said Paul. "It was a violent landing but I felt no pain.
MIRACLE: Paul on roof after landing
"I was on the roof for two hours but I don't remember anything. Apparently I was talking to the fire brigade guys. I was out of it until I was in intensive care.
"The first thing I remembered was that at about 2,400 feet I was resigned to dying . . . but within seconds I had lost consciousness. I had been falling at about 30 feet per second. For about 15 seconds I was fighting for my life. I will never need that much luck again. I'm selling my parachute equipment and my camera gear."
Watching the footage he took of the jump in the kitchen at his dad, Ron's home, Paul, revealed the fateful jump had been number 661 - which pals have now pointed out adds up to 13.
RESCUE: Firemen gently lift him down
"It was certainly unlucky 13 for me," said Paul. "But then again, I am alive down to luck so who can say?"
Quit
Looking at his battered helmet and twisted camera Paul said: "It has not scared me, but walking away from that . . . I feel it's time to quit. It doesn't get much worse than that."
Paul has moved in with his dad, Ron, 61, at Prees, in Shropshire, just ten minutes from the airfield, while he takes his recovery a day at a time. He was released from hospital only two days before our interview - his neck still in a brace after an eight-hour emergency operation and a spell in intensive care.
SAFE: Fireman's crane brings skydiver back to earth
Paul had been taken by air ambulance to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent after firefighters lifted him off the grain hangar roof on a platform.
Doctors have told him he should make a full recovery.
When he is able to look after himself, single Paul will return to his home in Shrewsbury where he lives with cat, Biggles, named after his passion for flying.
His mum Margaret , 62, of Wem, Shropshire, said: "The first words he said when he came around in hospital were, 'Look after the cat'."
Dad Ron, 61, added: "You worry about this kind of thing all the time. But he had fantastic luck - everyone has been asking for his lottery numbers."
SURVIVOR: Paul had dislocated neck, severe bruising and nerve damage in arm
Paul once broke his left ankle in 1998 jumping on a windy day. But he said: "I saved all my big luck for this one.
"It was just fantastic that I drifted onto the corrugated roof of the hangar. That cushioned my fall and it probably saved my life.
"If I had deployed the reserve canopy 50 metres earlier I would have landed on a different course . . . and I dread to think how it would have ended."
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This article has 30 comments
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By scarlett.. Posted November 24 2009 at 8:03 AM.
I am so happy to know you have made a full recovery! Take care
By Elizabeth (Kelvin's friend).. Posted September 28 2009 at 3:46 PM.
Paul
Brilliant to see you looking so good in town this morning. I normally grumble when the missus sends me on an errand (no under the thumb gags pls people) but today was a welcome exception. After losing touch, it was nice to be able to speak with you again and I hope your recovery is a speedy one. MARTIN & JEANETTE
By Martin Wild.. Posted September 12 2009 at 12:12 PM.
Ok firstly thanks to all my mates for your kind intellectual comments. Now for those of you who aint so bright sell your computer and take up knitting.
There was a small turn as i pulled the reserve, no big deal,i was aware of it but once the techno came out that small turn wouldnt of caused the mess above my head. The cut away and reserve deployment was about the same as an rsl would have done, beautiful detachment, but something went wrong. I was almost vertical at cutaway due to the pilot 132 being inflated, maybe the reserve in the freebag hit my cameras and developed a spin we will never know.
We all assume we know it all but we dont, yeah i could of deployed the reserve slightly later but if it hadn't opened correctly, where would i have landed? not on the roof, now tell me it was wrong! I may not of even been here to type this.
By Paul Lewis.. Posted September 8 2009 at 6:30 PM.
Oh my Goodness Paul!!!
You told me so much about it ...
i had no idea
Bless you glad you are still alive
wouldn't be the same without you about
keep in touch
regards Dot
By Dotty Bennett.. Posted September 3 2009 at 1:51 PM.
Hi paul;
still on the mend I hope, after reading some of these posts you still realize how lucky you were to walk away from this,please don't make the mistake of going back into the sport I don't think you be so luck next time, I would like you to stay with us ta! as I said to you last sunday keep to the flying paul.
All the very best and regards,
Phil,Jue and Wayne.
By Phil Parker.. Posted September 3 2009 at 10:23 AM.
For the people stating he should pay his own bills:-
Start on the criminals that put Britain into shame, not good people that work for a living. This was his job, like any job there is risk and like any tax payer he is sadly reaping the benefit of working in Great Britain.
As a tax payer, I am happy for this guy receiving treatment.
Skydiving is not of great financial concern for the country and will never do as much economic damage as Gordon Brown and the banks.
Focus your efforts on bigger things.
Darren
By darren gibson.. Posted September 3 2009 at 10:05 AM.
So gald you are ok, you were my cameraman when I did my tandem skydive back in March. The video of my jump is brilliant all thanks to you. Speedy recovery x x
By Malkit Bhambra.. Posted September 2 2009 at 10:08 PM.
Jerbear
Skydiving is about as risky as driving a car, providing you follow the rules! Get a life and stop living in a bubble!
By cameraman.. Posted September 1 2009 at 10:17 AM.
Quite honestly..No joke...How would you describe The Matrix?.....
By sunfox.. Posted September 1 2009 at 5:58 AM.
Dude, glad to hear you on the mend. Keep your chin up mate im sure you will miss the sport and jump again....
By Keith.. Posted August 31 2009 at 10:27 PM.
Great story but not really falling without a parachute is it. It opened, it slowed him down but wasn't fully inflated or steerable. There's a difference between that and no chute.
Lucky escape fella!
By northern man.. Posted August 31 2009 at 1:10 PM.
so glad ur ok paul. you were supposed to have been my camera man on the day i did my tandem skydive May 2009 but last minute you became the pilot of the plane i jumped from and you were brilliant. speedy recovery.x
By Glenys Jones.. Posted August 31 2009 at 12:11 AM.
I think he may have a bit of a problem, trying to sell off his parachuting gear!.
By toondog73.. Posted August 30 2009 at 11:57 PM.
wel to those few idiots who posted statments on here sayin this parachutist should pay his own medical bills need to get a grip, do smokers pay for there own when they fall ill, drinkers? drivers invloved in crashes? sportsmen an women. im guessing that workin 2 jobs ( cameraman an signaller) that the man injured actually paid income tax, an national insurance, which is more than can be said for millions in the country who use are health service and to whom he an we support!!!!! i do military parachuting which is completely different type of parachuting but i would hope that if i had a bad day at the office like this that i earn the right to full treatment if injured......
By col.. Posted August 30 2009 at 7:23 PM.
Tasty crash Jackmon, glad you're ok matey.
See you this week sometime.
Andy :)
By Andy "Splash 'em" Turner.. Posted August 30 2009 at 1:53 PM.
Sound advice Luke, when were you last in that situation? My one and only cutaway in 2000 plus jumps was panic time. It was a camera jump, friends said why didn't you photograph the malfunction. I can tell you that was the last thing on my mind. Good advice is think about cutaway procedure on every jump, regularly locate the handles under canopy, they may not be visible with full face helmets and will not be in exactly the same position as on the ground.
Finally, if you are using an automatic deployment (RSL) system you have no time to get stable anyway.
By Len Doran.. Posted August 30 2009 at 12:47 PM.
J Cross,
I can assure you being both a military and sport parachutist you don't plan these accidents, in fact do you have private insurance for activities that you do on holiday ? The accident rates for parachutist are very low indeed. please do your research before making such a damming statement which is totally uninformed and groundless and that is from an expert.
By Chris.. Posted August 30 2009 at 12:43 PM.
good landing
By alan jones.. Posted August 30 2009 at 11:40 AM.
I wish people would stop whinging about the cost to the tax payer. I'm sure this man has contributed over the years unlike the thousands of druggie dropouts who o/d everyday in this country and get brought back to life with a shot of narcan, then want to see a doctor when they are arrested, never thinking to make a contribution to the coffers. Get real!!!
By cliffy.. Posted August 30 2009 at 11:16 AM.
J.Cross what a daft statement. I am sure the number of people injured in parachute accidents is far far far less than those injured in the home by accidents, the majority caused by stupidity.
Fell from a ladder badly placed, no treatment. Slipped on a wet floor? No treatment! Fell down the stairs becuase in a hurry? No treatment. The list is endless and this can be applied to car drivers, people who eat badly, people who do not exercise.
By John.. Posted August 30 2009 at 11:06 AM.
In order to compete, or take part, in high risk sports, it should be a mandatory requirement that private health insurance should be taken out. This would relieve the National Health Service for picking up the Bill, for what is tantamount to, self inflicted injury.
By J. Cross.. Posted August 30 2009 at 10:32 AM.
yeah... so anyone choosing to drive in a car, and have a car crash.. they should pick up the hospital bills too?!
stupid statement is stupid.
By cjr.. Posted August 30 2009 at 10:30 AM.
I have done a parachute jump and thankfully it all went well. I would love to do another one but dont want to push my luck! Thankfully this man will recover - he is so lucky. I dont agree with the comments about why we have to pay for his treatment on the NHS though. How many accidents are from things that we dont actually have to do - football, rugby - all sorts of social activities we choose to undertake which carry some form of risk. OK skydiving may be more risky but it sounds to me as though he has had less cause to use the emergency services than your average football team
By Jane.. Posted August 30 2009 at 10:46 AM.
Paul,
because of you I have a record of my own parachute jump!
Thanks to you 'lunatics hell bent on killing themselves' I raised lots of cash for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Needed to prove I'd jumped and all that!!
So glad you're OK.
I don't think I'll ever do it again either!! x
By Bernadette.. Posted August 30 2009 at 10:08 AM.
I'm still here...
By ex-cameraman.. Posted August 30 2009 at 9:47 AM.
"Why does the taxpayer have to pick up the bill for these lunatics hell bent on killing themseves. There was probably someone waiting for an ambulance or a Hospital bed who is still waiting while these hero's wallow in their self pity and gung-ho stories of bravado" by Jerbear.
Don't you think we should be doing something about the millions of pounds wasted, and the valuable time, on our NHS, caused by alcohol & violence in this Country? Not taxing skydivers!
By Tony.. Posted August 30 2009 at 9:04 AM.
Why does the taxpayer have to pick up the bill for these lunatics hell bent on killing themseves. There was probably someone waiting for an ambulance or a Hospital bed who is still waiting while these hero's wallow in their self pity and gung-ho stories of bravado. This guy and all like him should have to pay for all the attention and treatment he recieved. Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Jerbear.. Posted August 30 2009 at 6:50 AM.
Ex cameraman, so many people have gone in using your technique... it's not taught by anyone.
Cutaway, clear your risers, pull the reserve.
As to kicking out twists... that might work on a lightly loaded main canopy for someone's first jump. Once you're jumping high performance gear like our lucky friend here, you need the skill of pushing the risers together to get the twists closer to your harness. Check in with Brian Germain or John Le Blanc.
Cutaway, get stable, pull... it kills people.
By Luke Oliver.. Posted August 30 2009 at 3:59 AM.
Your reserve was opening while you were still spinning after your cutaway with line twists. Done it myself. But with so much height (according to your testimony) you should have stabled out before dumping the reserve. 2900' - ! - that's 10 seconds to sort yourself out for a clean reserve deployment...
By ex-cameraman.. Posted August 30 2009 at 1:05 AM.