"He had a passion for skydiving:" Man killed in skydiving incident had amassed more than 2,000 jumps
RACINE (AP) — Racine County Sheriff's officials have identified the people involved in a fatal skydiving accident that occurred on Sunday, July 20th. Officials say the man who died was a very experienced skydiver.
Authorities say 44-year-old Fredrick Platt Jr., of Racine, died Sunday afternoon when his parachute became entangled with another skydiver's canopy. The two missed their landing spot at Sylvania Airport in the Town of York.
Officials say Platt died at the scene. The second skydiver, 27-year-old Neil Kulman, sustained minor injuries after landing in some trees.
The runway outside "Skydive Midwest" in Racine County was quiet Monday, less than 24 hours after one of the company's most experienced customers plunged to his death.
"Something he enjoyed doing. He had a passion for skydiving," Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said.
Photos published on Fredrick Platt's Facebook page shows he was an avid skydiver -- with more than 2,000 jumps under his belt.
It was just after 5:30 on Sunday evening. Jeff Fisher was stuck in traffic.
"I had a sick feeling something bad had happened. Traffic was down to two lanes," Fisher said.
Traffic was moving slow on I-94, and Fisher says two skydivers caught his eye.
"They got too close. One skydiver hit the other and the chute got entangled. The chute collapsed and then they both dropped," Fisher said.
The Racine County Sheriff's Office says their investigation continues, but they say it appears Platt and Kulhman jumped separately -- and somehow became entangled between 1,200 and 800 feet off the ground.
"The decedent ended up cutting away the parachute to get himself away from the other individual and then threw his reserve parachute out. At this point we're not looking at the business -- that they did anything wrong at this point. Everything is consistent with an accident," Sheriff Schmaling said.
Skydive Midwest officials declined requests for on-camera interviews, but released a statement saying: "Mr. Platt was a highly experienced skydiver, having amassed over 2,000 jumps during his skydiving career. Injuries sustained were not a result of equipment malfunction."
"There's a risk anytime you jump out of an airplane, naturally. I suspect individuals who choose this type of sport recognize there are certain dangers. (Sunday) was an example -- a very freak accident, but nonetheless an accident," Sheriff Schmaling said.
Authorities say Kulman is expected to make a full recovery.
In another incident, a female skydiver was injured Sunday when she landed in a cornfield about a mile from her intended landing area at the Fort Atkinson Municipal Airport in Jefferson County. She was taken by air to University Hospital in Madison.
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