Crime & Safety

Experienced Skydiver Dies Following 'Hard Landing' At Skydive City

The 27-year-old man was an experienced skydiver with over 1,000 prior jumps.

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A 27-year-old man from Salem, Ohio, died during a skydiving accident at Skydive City in Zephyrhills Tuesday.
A 27-year-old man from Salem, Ohio, died during a skydiving accident at Skydive City in Zephyrhills Tuesday. (Pasco Fire Rescue)

ZEPHYRHILLS, FL — A 27-year-old man from Salem, Ohio, died during a skydiving accident at Skydive City in Zephyrhills Tuesday.

Zephyrhills police responded to a 911 call at Skydive City, 4241 Sky Dive Lane, regarding a "hard landing" by a solo diver while performing a "swooping" maneuver.

The skydiver, Thomas Barrett, was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with severe injuries. He was pronounced dead at 4:06 p.m.

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According to skydive waiver records, Barrett was listed as an experienced skydiver with over 1,000 prior jumps.

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