From Freefall to Fight for Life: British Skydiver Survives 11,000-Foot Plunge After Parachute Failure
What was meant to be an adrenaline-fueled adventure above the Nevada desert quickly descended into terror when a young British skydiver’s parachute failed to deploy at 11,000 feet. In mere seconds, what should have been a once-in-a-lifetime thrill spiraled into a near-fatal nightmare.
25-year-old Mitchell Deakin, from the UK, was tandem skydiving just outside Las Vegas on September 17 when disaster struck. Strapped to his experienced instructor, 54-year-old Jiron Arcos Ponce, Deakin found himself in a life-or-death freefall after both the main and reserve parachutes failed to deploy correctly.
According to a Metropolitan Police Department report cited by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the pair spun out of control before slamming into the desert floor at an estimated 45 mph.
Devastating Injuries, Miraculous Survival
Deakin sustained multiple critical injuries, including:
A fractured pelvis
Several broken ribs
A punctured lung
A lacerated kidney
Additional fractures in his spine
He underwent emergency surgery at University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where metal plates were inserted into his pelvis and fluid was drained from his lung. Currently, he can walk with a frame but is unable to bear weight on his right leg.
His mother has shared that despite extreme exhaustion and pain, Mitchell is maintaining a positive outlook, bolstered by messages of support from home and abroad. “The fractures are stable and supported by muscles, so they will heal,” she added.
Meanwhile, his instructor, Jiron Ponce, remains in critical condition as of late September.
Support From Across the Globe
A GoFundMe campaign, created by family friend Isabel Clacher, has raised over £18,500 (approximately $25,000) to support Mitchell’s long recovery. The fundraiser helps cover his medical expenses, accommodation, and transportation as he remains far from home.
Clacher described the ordeal as “extremely traumatic” for Mitchell and his loved ones. She added that he has already expressed a desire to donate any unused funds to charity once he has recovered.
Investigation Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the parachute malfunction, examining both the packing of the main and reserve chutes and adherence to flight regulations. If no regulatory breaches are found, the FAA will hand the case over to local authorities.
Conclusion: Courage in Freefall
Mitchell Deakin’s survival is nothing short of miraculous—a stark reminder of how quickly an exhilarating moment can become life-threatening. His ordeal also underscores the risks of extreme sports, the importance of safety protocols, and the indomitable resilience of the human spirit.
With his body healing and a global community rallying behind him, Mitchell’s journey from a catastrophic fall to a determined recovery is already inspiring many. As questions about the incident linger, one truth remains clear: when everything fell apart at 11,000 feet, Mitchell chose to fight—and lived to tell the story.