Mass. man seriously injured in Maine skydiving incident

A Massachusetts man was seriously injured Monday when he landed with an “extremely hard impact” while skydiving in Maine.

Manny Silva, 57, of Dartmouth, was conscious and alert when first responders arrived on the scene at Skydive New England in Lebanon, Maine, News Center Maine reports. The incident occurred when he was unable to perform a “style” during a dive, a maneuver that would have allowed him to slow down before landing, officials told the station.

He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries by helicopter, according to News Center Maine.

In a statement to the station, Skydive New England said Silva had made 33 previous jumps.

“According to witnesses, the skydiver’s free fall and parachute deployment appeared normal, with no signs of equipment malfunction,” the company said. “Observers noted that the parachute operated as expected throughout the descent. However, at an altitude of approximately 300 feet, the parachutist stopped actively flying the parachute for an unknown reason, leading to a hard landing.”

The safety of its guests remains the “top priority,” the company went on to say.

“We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all of our skydivers,” it told News Center Maine.

The extent of Silva’s injuries was not immediately known, the company said.