A skydiver was found dead in northwest Louisiana over the weekend after his parachute failed to deploy, authorities said. He was briefly missing following the jump.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office identified the skydiver as an Asian man but did not share his name. Saturday afternoon, the office said a search was underway for a skydiver last seen in the Gilliam area, located about 25 miles north of Shreveport. The sheriff had received a report shortly before 1:30 p.m. local time from Gilliam Airport informing him of his disappearance.
Police learned that the skydiver’s parachute had not deployed when he arrived at the airfield, according to the sheriff. Multiple agencies began searching for the man, including an air rescue team and units from North Caddo Medical Center, Caddo Fire District and Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as the County Sheriff’s Office. Caddo.
The missing skydiver was found dead about two hours later, the sheriff said, noting that searchers discovered his body a few miles from his intended landing spot. Authorities are investigating the incident.
Skydiving accidents are rare. The United States Parachute Association reported 10 skydiving fatalities in 2023, out of 3.65 million jumps recorded throughout the year. Although experts acknowledge the sport can be dangerous, the USPA said most accidents occur due to human error and not equipment failure.
“Many accidents occur because the jumper – often an experienced parachutist who pushes the limits – makes an error in judgment when landing from a perfectly functioning parachute,” the USPA writes on its website, comparing the incidents from skydiving to car accidents that “are not usually the result of equipment failure, but rather operator errors.
