Drifting Off Course: Parachutist Gets Tangled In Power Lines

LONGMONT, CO - A parachutist who became entangled in power lines Thursday morning survived a ground impact, but was transported to Longmont United Hospital with a probable back injury. The 29-year-old Illinois man had been skydiving with a group from Mile High Skydiving at Vance Brand Airport when he went off course and his chute got caught in the power lines near a farm in the 10,000 block of Airport Road, according to a press release from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

According to Longmont Power and Communications, the line typically contains 7,200 volts, but it blew a fuse when the parachute made contact. Although his chute remained tangled in the power lines, the man was on the ground–though conscious and breathing–when rescue personnel from the Hygiene Fire Department and AMR Ambulance arrived on the scene.

During the incident, several nearby residents were briefly without power. The man was an experienced skydiver and licensed to jump alone.

The Federal Aviation Administration is handling the investigation.

Don't miss a moment in Boulder County. Sign up for your free Patch newsletter here.

Photo courtesy of Boulder County Sheriff.