JAMUL, Calif. (AP) — A skydiver who plunged to his death in San Diego County had three decades of parachuting experience and was wearing an emergency safety device — but authorities say it was turned off.
U-T San Diego (http://bit.ly/UMrzxP ) says the man died when his parachute failed to open during a jump about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday near the Otay Lakes.
His name wasn’t released.
Authorities say the skydiver was equipped with a device that automatically deploys a parachute in an emergency, but it was turned off.
Buzz Fink, who owns Skydive San Diego, says the 53-year-old had logged more than 10,000 jumps and was considered a mentor to other skydivers.
Fink says the man worked as a handyman and is survived by a teenage son.
___
Information from: U-T San Diego, http://www.utsandiego.com
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
