A 46-year-old videographer from Hampshire met a tragic death during a parachute jump near Shotton Airfield in County Durham on April 28. Sam Cornwell was pronounced dead at South West Industrial Estate due to the critical injuries he sustained because of the fall. The incident took place while Cornwell was filming a fellow skydiver.
The last moments of Cornwell’s tragic death have been discussed at a preliminary inquest held at Crook Civic Centre on Monday (September 16). Reportedly, the 46-year-old videographer’s main canopy had opened but was twisted, making it useless. The reserve or backup parachute also did not function, compromising Cornwell’s jump. Chilling footage from the site showed the videographer was stuck in a branch of a tree.
“We have got the imagery of the person he is being paid to take the video of,” said Jan Bostock, a senior environmental health officer with Durham County Council. He also mentioned that the council would seek independent analysis of the altimeter, GoPro camera footage, and other equipment used on the day.
Bostock, who claimed to have watched footage taken on Cornwell’s helmet-mounted camera, added, “They appear to shoot off when it is actually their descent that is slowing.”
Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield mentioned that a jury will hear the full inquest hearing. He adjourned the case for a further hearing and will resume the progress of the case on January 14, 2025.
“My lovely brother Sam sadly passed away after a skydiving accident. Words can’t describe how we are feeling,” Cornwell’s sister Toni said while issuing heartfelt tributes to the videographer. She added, “He meant so much to so many people. He was very loved and will be sorely missed.”
Jerrie Mallon, the videographer’s best friend, said: “I really can’t understand why it had to happen to the kindest, most caring human I’ve ever known. It was an honour to have you as our best man for our wedding, and you even managed to get me there on time.”
“I always imagined us two sitting in a bar in our 80s sipping on our pints, telling the young nippers about our unbelievable reckless antics we got up to as we grew up terrorising the streets of Godshill. Who’s going to back up the stories now?” added Mallon.
“We are all deeply saddened by the loss of a close friend, colleague, and talented member of our team, our skydiving family,” read a statement released by Sky-High Skydiving, which operates out of the airfield.
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