22-Year-Old Has Seizure 9,000 Feet Above Ground. Watch How A Skydiver Saves Him In Mid Air
As if jumping out of an airplane isn't scary enough...
By Samantha Khor — 03 Mar 2015, 01:29 PM
Like a super 'kan cheong' scene right out of an action movie, skydiving trainee Christopher Jones had a harrowing near-death experience when he suffered an epileptic seizure mid-jump
Jones - who was halfway through his skydiving training program when he attempted the jump - had turned to skydiving when his epilepsy ruled out his dreams of being a pilot.
While the academy had a questionnaire that specifically asked course participants whether they had existing illnesses and conditions, Jones' treating specialist wrote a letter specifically stating that he was fit for skydiving.
"I'd been seizure-free for four years," Jones said. "I've always wanted to have the feeling of flight, so I just thought, considering I can't fly a plane due to my condition, I thought I'd give it a go."
The 22-year-old was attempting a left hand turn when he started to shake uncontrollably and rolled onto his back at an altitude of approximately 9000 feet
Unconscious, Jones began to freefall uncontrollably for the next 30 seconds while his jumpmaster Sheldon McFarlane tried to get close enough to grab ahold of him
McFarlane's first attempt was not successful, but he finally managed to grab Jones' arm and deployed the parachute at approximately 4000 feet
