Parachute Instructor Breaks Fall

WindSock

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/10/assignment_america/main6471254.shtml

Sorting junk mail day after day -- driving the same rural mail route week after week -- you can understand why Shirley Dygert of Teague, Texas, thought she could use a little exhilaration for a change.

For her 54th birthday, the grandmother of three decided to send herself airmail - by jumping out of a plane from 13,000 feet. CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports Dygert was strapped to her instructor in what's called a tandem jump.

In video taken before the jump, Dygert is seen with her instructor and soon to be hero: Dave Hartsock.


There isn't any video of what happened next, just still photos. Their first parachute opened, but only partially -- and their reserve chute just got tangled-up with the first one.

"And I thought, huh, this is how I'm going to die," Dygert said. "I thought God please help us, God please help Dave and we just continued to spiral."

At 40 mph and 500 feet from the ground, Hartsock did the truly unimaginable. Just before crashing, he told Shirley to lift up her feet. He then pulled down the control toggles to rotate their position to put his body under hers to act as a cushion so that when they hit, he would take the brunt of the fall.

"I can't hardly believe it," Dygert said. "He broke my fall."

Hartsock didn't die, but his valor cost him dearly. He's now paralyzed with just a little movement in his right arm.

"People keep telling me that it was a heroic thing to do," Hartsock said. "In my opinion it was just the right thing to do. I mean, I was the one who was completely responsible for her safety. What other choices were there?"

"You hear heroes say that, don't you?" Dygert said. "It's just because that's the kind of person they are."

We were with them the first time they saw each other since the accident. Although she came to hospital to cheer him up, it turned out the other way around. Hartsock had her laughing, and even invited her skydiving again.

"We're accident-proof now, baby. I mean what are the odds of something like that happening twice like that?"

He's planning on it someday.

Hartsock has a long road ahead - although some feeling is already coming back. Plus, he's got his mom taking care of him and she's got his same spirit.

From good heroic stock, these Socks are.

admiralofthefleet

he was just setting himself up for a fall

Stercus Accidit

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

he was just setting himself up for a fall

After hours, not even one post saying fair play to yerman before a pun.

cian1500ww

Stercus Accidit wrote: »

After hours, not even one post saying fair play to yerman before a pun.

Fair play to yerman

Happy ??

--Kaiser--

Fair play to yer man

Stercus Accidit

cian1500ww wrote: »

Fair play to yerman

Happy ??

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Fair play to yer man

Fair play to yez lads

Adamcp898

I too say fair play to Yemen

jd007

Stercus Accidit wrote: »

After hours, not even one post saying fair play to yerman before a pun.

You sound surprised at this?:p

Bonito

Legend TBH. That's a real man.

Wazdakka

Fair play to him.
But tandem masters should be well able to pack a rig properly...

bonerm

Hartsock didn't die, but his valor cost him dearly. He's now paralyzed with just a little movement in his right arm.

Wow, the feel-good story of the year.

Banned Account

at least he can still crack off a sneaky one to the hot nurse.

bonerm

Fitzcaraldo wrote: »

at least he can still crack off a sneaky one to the hot nurse.

So you're saying he can still chute his load?

Sofiztikated

Hartsock didn't die, but his valor cost him dearly. He's now paralyzed with just a little movement in his right arm.

How much is a little movement? I mean, can he still...you know...toot toot? I think that would do my head in more than not being able to walk.

[/end AH answer]

This is a good guy. Taking the full force of a fall, with another body on top. Must have hurt.

Agree with Wazdakka though, should have packed properly.

CreepingDeath

Stercus Accidit wrote: »

After hours, not even one post saying fair play to yerman before a pun.

Meh, he should've cut his main partially deployed chute free before deploying the reserve. Or cut the granny free, she led a good life.

Mr.David

That'll take the wind out of his sail

He had an over inflated opinion of himself anyway

Wazdakka

CreepingDeath wrote: »

Meh, he should've cut his main partially deployed chute free before deploying the reserve.

The AAD could have deployed the reserve before he had a chance to cut away the main.

It shouldn't have happened though because if he had a mal, he should have long ditched the main and popped the lifesaver before the computer kicked in.

Gravity... She is a harsh mistress.

Or cut the granny free, she led a good life.

orourkeda

Fitzcaraldo wrote: »

at least he can still crack off a sneaky one to the hot nurse.

I hope he's left handed. His right hand doesn't appear to be working properly which I hope isn't his **** hand.

WindSock

Ohh, that guy is such a hero alright. Hope he can recover, sure is plane crazy!










Just bumping this back to the first page in a last ditch effort to scab potd

/ thankswhoretm

stovelid

Just when you think life is OK, Something Happens.

Resi12

Wow that's amazing, what a man.