Two skydivers have been seriously injured following a mid-air collision that sent them crashing to the ground near Wilton Airfield on Sunday afternoon. The incident, which occurred around 2pm on May 10, involved a male teenager and a man in his early twenties, both of whom sustained significant hip and back injuries upon impact.
Emergency Response
Paramedics, firefighters, police, and a CareFlight medical team were dispatched to the scene after reports emerged that one of the skydivers was unresponsive following the collision. A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman confirmed that the two parachutists collided in mid-air before landing heavily. Medical crews are currently treating the injured pair, taking spinal precautions due to the severity of the impact.
The situation remains dynamic, with authorities continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. It is not yet known which skydiving company was involved, though SkyOne regularly uses the Wilton Airfield as a jump site. The Mercury has reached out to the company for comment.
History of Incidents at Wilton
The Wilton Airfield has been the site of multiple fatal skydiving accidents over the years. In July 2017, instructor Adrian Lloyd, 60, and his student Low Ke Wei, 29, a Singaporean national, died after crash-landing on a rural property driveway approximately one kilometre from their intended landing area. That incident occurred while they were part of a larger group, with the rest landing safely. At the time, reports indicated that seven fatalities had occurred at the site in the preceding 16 years.
In December 2012, an experienced skydiver in his thirties lost his life following a mid-air collision with another parachutist. Earlier that year, in July 2012, former Wollongong resident Tim Fitzsimmons, aged 27, sustained critical injuries when he struck the ground while attempting a swooping manoeuvre; he later died in hospital. On Boxing Day 2005, another experienced skydiver in his thirties was killed in a crash. Additionally, in September 2001, two men died in separate incidents just three hours apart.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Sunday's incident to come forward. Further updates will be provided as the investigation unfolds.
