Fatality in Norway: Jonathan Tagle

[mknutson]

Sad news:


Sad news from Norway
by PD Factory Team on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 3:40pm ·
Earlier today near Eidfjord in Norway, Jonathan Tagle was involved in a fatal accident during a mountain run. We don't have all the details yet, other than it appears he clipped a tree with his canopy and fell into the river below. It is confirmed that he passed away. We are in touch with his family and are making arrangements to bring him home - Bobo and JC are out there.

This is too fresh and painful to reflect on all the amazing things Jonathan accomplished as a person, a son, and an athlete. We’d like to ask you to pray for his family right now whilst we try to come to terms with this devastating news.

JT - may perpetual light shine upon you, may you rest in peace bro

Not sure yet if this was a proximity BASE Jump, or this was a skydiving demo.

I am saddened by the news, but want to get the pertinent facts before the facts get lost.

[Mej]

It’s with great sadness that we give you the facts surrounding the accident yesterday – please know that this is full disclosure and may be uncomfortable to read.



Jonathan had been jumping all morning with members of the Fazza Sky team on this one particular run in the Eidfjord region in Norway. In the afternoon he was alternating runs with JC and Bobo then with the Fazza Sky Team - this was Jonathan’s seventh run of the day on the same run.



He was flying aggressively and confidently in terrain where there is no margin for error. His canopy hit a tree in a very narrow deep part of the gorge, causing him to strike the side of the gorge wall and fall into the river below. The river swept him downstream and over several waterfalls until he got stuck at the bottom of one of them.



JC and Bobo were ground support for the run. On seeing the accident JC rode the helicopter up to where Jonathan was. JC tried to retrieve Jonathan from the water – he was heavily entangled in lines and material and face down. JC managed to cut away his canopy but could see that Jonathan was already gone. The canopy was still wrapped around Jonathan and it started to reinflate, pulling both of them down the river towards the next waterfall. JC had to let him go and Jonathan came to rest in the next pool, where the Medivac team eventually retrieved him.



Once the Coroner here is ready to release him, Jonathan will be flown back to his family in California.



We want to thank you for all your expressions of love and support for Jonathan’s family and the team over the last 24 hours. We are spread far and wide right now and reading all the messages from our skydiving family helps more than you can imagine.



There will be a place to share good stories and fond memories of JT with each other on this page shortly.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/pd-factory-team/more-news-from-norway/10150900766667611