SAF serviceman killed in parachute jump
Posted: 21 May 2009 0738 hrs
SINGAPORE: A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) regular
serviceman was killed during a parachute freefall training session
in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said First Warrant Officer
(1WO) Tan Poh Eng was part of a six-man team that jumped off a
Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 aircraft at a height of 12500
feet to conduct a formation jump.
When the formation broke off at 3500 feet to deploy their
parachutes, 1WO Tan, 53, spiralled downwards to the ground.
He was found unconscious at about 4.45pm (Singapore time), and
given immediate medical attention by an SAF doctor and
a medic on-site.
1WO Tan was heli-evacuated at 5.15pm and arrived at about 5.35pm
at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein.
The parachute jump instructor from the Commando Training
Institute was pronounced dead at 5.57pm in the hospital.
Mindef and the SAF extend their deepest condolences
to the family of the late 1WO Tan and is investigating the
incident. All SAF freefall training has been
temporarily suspended.
- CNA/yt
Looking at this case, his death cause might be due to a sudden
surge in Blood Pressure.
His parachute definitely opened up, otherwise he will have
become Rojak, and there will be no need to send him to
hospital.
It could be ( or rather, probably ) that there is something
wrong with the parachute which caused him to spiral downwards, and
in this kind of situation, no matter how young or old the person
is, there is quite some chance that some of your blood capillaries
will burst due to the pressure, and you will end up R.I.P.
My condolences to Encik Tan.
