A British skydiver, Nathy Odinson, 33, tragically lost his life during an illegal base jump from a 29-story residential building in Pattaya, Thailand.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening, January 27, prompted a police investigation into the events leading up to the jump and the failure of the parachute to function properly.
Originally from Cambridgeshire, UK, Odinson had been living in Thailand where he worked at a skydiving school in Pattaya, often assisting customers with tandem jumps. On the evening of the incident, Odinson attempted a base jump from the rooftop of the Lumpini Ville Naklua tower block, a practice deemed illegal in the bustling seaside city.
Odinson’s friend was filming the jump. The video revealed Odinson preparing for the jump, inspecting his gear, and counting down before leaping. However, after the jump, it was clear that the parachute did not properly deploy. Odinson hit a tree before falling to the ground.
Upon arriving at the scene, paramedics pronounced Odinson dead. An eyewitness, Kanet Chansong, a 33-year-old security guard, reported hearing the sound of a tree and a woman’s scream before finding Odinson’s body. Chansong said that he realized a person had fallen from the building upon investigating the noise.
The Pattaya police, under the direction of Police Lieutenant Kamolporn Nadee, deputy inspector of investigations at the Bang Lamung district police station, initiated a comprehensive investigation. They are inspecting the faulty parachute and reviewing the video footage recorded by Odinson’s friend. Lieutenant Nadee noted that the parachute used by Odinson was not correctly centered and described his condition as severe upon their arrival.
Security personnel at the Lumpini Ville Naklua tower block reported that this was not Odinson’s first jump from the building and that he had previously been cautioned about the illegality of his actions. A guard noted that Odinson and his friend were producing content for social media and were cognizant of the building’s policy prohibiting such activities. On the night of the accident, CCTV showed Odinson and his friend initially sitting in a car outside the building until things were quiet. Then he sneaked into the building and up onto the roof.
The British Embassy in Bangkok has been informed of the incident, and a representative for the UK Foreign Office confirmed their support for Odinson’s family. Members of the skydiving community have paid their condolences on social media.
The untimely death of Odinson has heightened concerns regarding the dangers linked with unauthorized base jumping in urban settings. The Thai police are continuing their investigation, concentrating on the exact cause of the parachute’s malfunction and the legality of the jump. Forensic officers are scrutinizing the parachute, and additional inquiries are being conducted into Odinson’s actions leading up to the jump.
Base jumping involves jumping from fixed structures, such as buildings or cliffs, and utilizing a parachute for a safe descent. However, when carried out without proper authorization or in hazardous conditions, it can pose significant risks to both the jumper and bystanders.