Freak parachute accident in Washington leaves person in hospital

The North East Ambulance Service sent three Hazardous Area Response Teams (Hart) a specialist paramedic, an ambulance and an officer following reports a man had dropped from a parachute in Dryburgh in Washington, which is off Parkway near the town centre.

It then called for support from the Great North Air Ambulance, which sent a helicopter to the scene, but it was not required to transport the man.

He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead by ambulance.

Footage on social media shows a group of people using the parachute at ground level on a field, before a gust of wind pulls it into air dragging the person holding it with them before they fall to the floor.

Reports of the incident were made to the emergency services at 6.30pm yesterday, Friday, May 22.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: “We were called to Dryburgh to reports a person with a parachute had been lifted by the wind and then dropped to the floor.”

Nearby residents have spoken of their shock over the freak accident.

Councillor Dianne Snowdon, a ward member for Washington Central and Mayoress of Sunderland said: "I was shocked to hear what had happened and wish the young man a speedy recovery."

Neighbour Val Robinson, who lives nearby, said: “There was a group of people playing with the parachute. I saw them taking off moving a metre or so and landing.

“A lad must have put it on and the wind took off with him and he crashed into the house a few doors down.

The 64-year-old added: “The next thing I know ambulances, fire engines, police were here and the air ambulance landed too.

“It must have been really serious. I saw the doctor from the helicopter.”

Footage on social media shows a group of people using the parachute at ground level on a field, before a gust of wind pulls it into air dragging the person holding it with them before they crash into a house.

“My grandson showed me the video. It looked dreadful, the way he had crashed into it.

“It looked awful, I really hope he’s OK.”

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: “We were called to Dryburgh to reports a person with a parachute had been lifted by the wind and then dropped to the floor.”

The condition of the person involved is not known.

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