Skydiver Medflighted After 'Hard' Landing

by Tim Wood

CHATHAM --- A 32-year-old Scituate woman was injured while skydiving at Chatham Municipal Airport Wednesday afternoon.

The woman suffered multiple injuries and fractures to her lower extremities after a “hard landing,” according to Fire Department Lt. David Ready. After she was treated at the scene, Medflight was summoned and she was taken to Beth Isreal Deaconess Hospital in Boston. The department received an emergency call at 12:18 p.m., he said.
Ready said her injuries could be life threatening.

The woman jumped with Skydive Cape Cod, which operates out of the George Ryder Road Airport. All the company's skydives are done in tandem, with the passenger connected to an instructor with a harness. Police Sergeant William Glover said the instructor told him the jump was uneventful until a sudden wind gust or turbulence disrupted the airflow beneath the parachute, causing a “sudden stop.” Because of that, the passenger hit the ground first, rather than the instructor.

Glover identified the instructor as Marcus Silva. The passenger was identified as Tricia Cahalane.

Glover investigated because the injury occurred on town property. He said it was the first skydiving accident at the airport that he was aware of.

“It was an accident,” said Airport Commission Chairman Richard Hunter, adding he expects the airport operator will file a report on the incident. “I'm surprised these things don't happen more often.”

More about this story as it develops.