TRAGIC

Skydiver, 58, Dies After Hard Landing During Charity Event

The Florida event, which also involved a footrace and a swim, was to raise money for Hospice Hi-Flyers.

A Georgia man skydiving off Florida’s Atlantic coast died after a hard landing. The 58-year-old was participating in a charity event at Skydive Melbourne Beach in Melbourne, Florida, when he landed behind the Crowne Plaza Melbourne-Oceanfront Hotel around 5:15 p.m. Saturday, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, Fox 35 Orlando reported. The man was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Social media posts by Skydive Melbourne Beach prior to the tragedy advertised a charity fitness challenge that began with a skydive down to the starting line of a beach run, followed by an open-water swim. Proceeds benefitted the Hospice Hi-Flyers, which helps those in hospice care check skydiving off their bucket list. Skydive Melbourne Beach posted on Facebook Monday that “the skydiving community is deeply affected” by the loss. The Daily Beast has reached out to Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Skydive Melbourne Beach for comment.