A British skydiver, Nathy Odinson, 33, lost his life in a fatal base jump from a 29-story apartment building in Pattaya, Thailand.
The accident, which took place on Saturday evening, January 27, initiated a police inquiry into the jump and why the parachute did not open as it should have.
A native of Cambridgeshire, UK, Odinson was living in Thailand and working at a skydiving school in Pattaya. He was often involved in tandem jumps with clients. On the evening of the tragic event, Odinson attempted a base jump from the roof of the Lumpini Ville Naklua tower block, an action that is illegal in the populous coastal city. CCTV showed him and a friend waiting in a car outside until it was quiet, and then sneaking into the building and onto the roof.
The attempted jump was recorded by a friend of Odinson. The video showed him readying for the jump, inspecting his equipment, and counting down before leaping off. However, the parachute did not deploy correctly after he jumped. Odinson hit a tree before falling to the ground.
Emergency medical technicians declared Odinson dead at the scene. A 33-year-old security guard, Kanet Chansong, who saw the event unfold, recalled hearing the noise of a tree and a woman’s scream before finding Odinson’s body. Chansong said he realized someone had fallen from the building after investigating the source of the sound.
A thorough investigation is being carried out by the Pattaya police, under the leadership of Police Lieutenant Kamolporn Nadee, deputy inspector of investigations at the Bang Lamung district police station. They are analyzing the defective parachute and the video footage captured by Odinson’s friend. Lieutenant Nadee noted that Odinson’s parachute was not centered correctly and described the scene as “terrible” upon their arrival.
Security staff at the Lumpini Ville Naklua tower block reported that Odinson had jumped from the building before and had been previously warned about the illegal nature of such actions. A guard said Odinson and his friend were generating content for social media and knew about the building’s stance against such activities.
Officials from the British Embassy in Bangkok have been informed about the incident, and a representative from the UK Foreign Office has confirmed their assistance to Odinson’s family. Members of the skydiving community have shared their condolences on social media.
The death of Odinson has raised questions about the dangers of unauthorized base jumping in urban settings. The investigation by Thai police continues, focusing on determining the exact cause of the parachute failure and the legality of the jump. Forensic experts are working on the examination of the parachute, and additional inquiries are being made into Odinson’s actions leading up to the jump.
Base jumping involves jumping from fixed structures, such as buildings or cliffs, and using a parachute for a safe descent. However, when performed without proper authorization or under unsafe conditions, it can pose substantial risks to the jumper and others nearby.
