2 Parachutists Injured at Chicago Air Show

One hit a building on the way down, is in critical condition
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 15, 2015 4:59 PM CDT
Updated Aug 15, 2015 6:36 PM CDT
2 Parachutists Injured During Chicago Air Show
A Navy Leap Frog parachutist receives medical attention on North Avenue Beach Saturday.   (Michael Noble Jr./Chicago Tribune via AP)

Two parachutists were injured during a Chicago air show today after colliding in mid-air, reports WBBM. One of the two men then clipped the top of a high-rise apartment building before falling to the ground during the Chicago Air & Water Show. "His legs caught the tip of the roof, and then he fell over," a witness tells the Chicago Tribune. "It was horrible." That parachutist, a man in his late 20s who belongs to the Army Golden Knights team, remained in critical condition after surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.

The second injured parachutist, who belongs to the Navy's Leap Frogs team, landed on North Avenue Beach and suffered a broken leg. The accident happened after about a dozen parachutists jumped from an aircraft and then formed a circle holding hands. They broke apart on purpose after about 15 seconds, and the two parachutists apparently collided at that point. The investigation is continuing. The annual two-day air show is headlined by the US Navy Blue Angels and draws thousands of people to the shoreline of Lake Michigan. (More air show stories.)

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