Sunday, February 1, 2009

SC skydive instructor dies; 1st-timer lands safely

Authorities say a skydive instructor who was sharing a parachute with a first-time jumper apparently died of a heart attack in the air.

The first-time jumper was able to land safely Saturday in Chester County. He tried to revive the 49-year-old instructor after they had landed, but the coroner's office says it was too late.

The instructor was identified as George C. Steele of Sumter. He worked for Skydive Carolina, a business located at the Chester County Airport since 1986.

Steele had made thousands of jumps over a lengthy career.

The pair were skydiving in a tandem jump, where instructors are strapped to the backs of their students.

The first-time jumper was described as an active member of the military in his 30s, but his name was not immediately released.

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