Skydiver who survived 100ft plunge found dead
Paul McMahon, 29, who sustained horrific injuries in the fall in America last summer, was discovered in a car on a country road about 30km from his home in Castlederg, Co Tyrone, on Tuesday.
It is understood that police are not treating the death as suspicious. Friends said he had suffered bouts of depression in the past. An inquest will be held later.
Mr McMahon needed intensive rehabilitation after falling to the ground in the California desert last July. The experienced skydiver jumped from a plane 14,000ft up, but seconds from landing his parachute got tangled.
He broke both his legs, crushed his pelvis, lost six pints of blood and was in a coma for three days.
Friends and neighbours yesterday spoke of their shock at the death of the physiotherapist, who had worked for Strabane District Council as a fitness instructor at the time of his parachute accident.
Local councillor Derek Hussey, who knows the family, said news of the death had rocked the community.
“Obviously the death of Paul is a tremendous blow to his parents and to his family and to the whole community,” he said. “It has shocked everyone and undoubtedly the community will be there to support Paul’s parents and family at this very difficult time.”
After a month in hospital in America, Mr McMahon was flown back to continue his recovery in the North last August.
His body was found on the Ballintrain Road in Sixmilecross.
A postmortem examination is being carried out.
