Neighbours speak of shock after 'dreadful' parachute accident in Washington

Neighbours have spoken of their shock after a ‘young man’ suffered injuries in a parachuting accident in Washington.
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Paramedics, police officers and firefighters rushed to the scene in Dryburgh in Washington, which is off Parkway near the town centre.

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North East Ambulance Service says they were called to reports a man had been lifted from a parachute and fallen to the floor – however neighbours say the injured person is believed to be a teenage boy.

The grassy area off Dryburgh in Washington where a person was injured when using a parachuteThe grassy area off Dryburgh in Washington where a person was injured when using a parachute
The grassy area off Dryburgh in Washington where a person was injured when using a parachute

The Great North Air Ambulance was called to the scene but was not needed and the patient was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead by ambulance.

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.

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“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 grassy area off Dryburgh in Washington where a person was injured when using a parachuteThe grassy area off Dryburgh in Washington where a person was injured when using a parachute
The grassy area off Dryburgh in Washington where a person was injured when using a parachute

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.

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“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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