Sky-diver falls to his death after parachute is sabotaged

POLICE in England launched a murder inquiry yesterday when a sky-diver plunged 13,000ft to his death after his parachute was deliberately tampered with.

The cord on Stephen Hilder’s main parachute had been severed as well as the strapping on his reserve chute, Humberside Police revealed today.

The 20-year-old Army cadet officer plunged to the ground in seconds as horrified onlookers watched from nearby Hibaldstow Airfield in North Lincolnshire on Friday afternoon.

Mr Hilder, a veteran of more than 200 jumps, was taking part in a competition with seven other sky-divers at last week’s National Championships of the British Collegiate Parachute Association.

Police said Mr Hilder was a popular sky-diver with no known enemies and the motive for his killing is a mystery.

Detective Superintendent Colin Andrews, who is leading the investigation, said: “It is an absolute fact that both parachutes were deliberately tampered with, and on the basis of that we have to strongly suspect that murder was the motive.”

But he said: “One thing we have to consider is that this was a random act and Stephen was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“The parachute was purchased by Stephen and he was very safety conscious.

“It was stored in a room at the site and during the evening that store was locked. During the day people had access to it.

"We are trying to establish where the parachute was between Wednesday evening and up to the time of his death.” Mr Hilder’s family, from Hereford, were said to be “absolutely devastated” by his death.

They described him as a “wonderful son and brother” who had a passion for sky-diving.