ERDA, Utah, June 17, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A skydiver was critically injured Sunday during a jump near Erda in Tooele County.
The woman was an experienced skydiver, not a beginner, and she came down in an open area, near Erda Way and Palmer Road, a popular landing site with skydivers, North Tooele Fire spokesman Jon Smith told Gephardt Daily.
The agency was alerted to the medical emergency at about 5:12 p.m. Sunday, Smith said.
“It initially came in as a cardiac arrest due to electrocution,” he said. “It was called in as a parachuter who had landed on an antenna or powerline.
“So we responded expecting that, and what we saw when we showed up was something a little bit different, although I don’t know exactly what it was.”
The woman was conscious and talking, with a heart that was obviously beating.
“She had suffered a severe injury, but the nature of the injury is still kind of being determined, whether it was a spinal injury or an internal injury, or broken bones.”
AirMed responded and transported her to a trauma center in the Salt Lake Valley, and North Tooele Fire has had no updates on her condition, Smith said. She was transported in critical condition, but the fact she was talking was a positive sign, he said.
“Then we were off to our next call. It was a very busy day.”
Smith said he believes a power line was part of the accident.
“We know that something touched the power line, but whether it was her or the parachute, we don’t know. That will all be part of the investigation that transpires after this.”
There is also some disagreement on whether her chute fully opened, or she landed using an emergency chute after the main chute failed.
“The investigation will determine that, too,” Smith said.
Gephardt Daily will have more information as details are released.
