A WELSH man who plunged 5,000 ft after his parachute failed to open survived after his instructor used his body to break their joint fall. Mr Gareth Griffiths (27) escaped without breaking a bone, but his American instructor, Mr Michael Costello, was killed on impact.
Mr Griffiths and Mr Costello were making a tandem dive, attached to each other, when they got into difficulties and plummeted into a field near Umatilla airport in central Florida.
According to observers, Mr Costello deliberately cushioned the fall by flicking the pair over in mid-air. He then hit the ground first, landing on his back.
Mr Costello's friend, Mr John Matthews, who spoke to other instructors on the jump, said Michael and Gareth watched a first group of three pairs jump out of the aircraft, before jumping out themselves with two other pairs.
"The other instructors could see something was wrong with Michael and Gareth, but did not know what," he said.
"After they landed they went to see what it was. The pair had not moved, and there were no voices, not even any screams from Mr Griffiths."
Mr Costello, who had 18 years' experience, was dead on arrival at Orlando Regional Hospital.
Astonishingly, Mr Griffiths survived the fall, on Sunday night. He was last night recovering in hospital after undergoing seven hours of surgery to repair damage to his lower back. He also suffered serious abdominal injuries.
His mother, Mrs Fay Griffiths (67), speaking from the family home in Bridgend, south Wales, said yesterday: "Gareth is a very, very lucky man. I feel so sorry for the family of the poor instructor who was killed. Gareth's twin brother, David, is hoping to fly out to see him but we are waiting to hear from the hospital to see what is best."
Mr Griffiths's friend, Mr Michael Tighe, who watched the accident unfold, said: "The instructor saved Gareth's life."
Mr Griffiths, a management consultant with Arthur Andersen, was on the second-day of a two-week holiday with friends when the accident occurred. It was his first parachute jump.
Experts yesterday said it was extremely unlikely he would have survived a 5,000 ft fall unless his parachute had opened at least partially. When tandem dives go wrong, both jumpers usually survive or both are killed.
Mr Costello's widow, Sandi, speaking from her home in Umatilla, said last night: "When he realised the chutes were not going to open, we strongly believe Michael wrapped himself around his student to save his life.
"It was very intentional, and we know that if he had survived, he would have done it again. He had tremendous experience, and loved parachuting and flying."