A United States Navy SEAL died in a parachuting accident Sunday in Jersey City.
The unidentified male soldier fell into the Hudson river near Liberty State Park after his parachute failed to open, officials said.
According to News12, he ‘appeared to cut the chute loose, sending him plunging into the Hudson River, while his gear fluttered away.’
The Coast Guard immediately recovered the man and rushed him to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.
The SEAL’s failed parachute was located in a nearby parking lot.
The victim was a member of the ‘Navy Leap Frogs’ who were participating in Jersey City’s ‘Fleet Week.’
The US Navy issued the following statement: (NNS) — A member of the U.S. Navy’s elite parachute team, the Leap Frogs, was pronounced dead today at 1:10 p.m. after his parachute malfunctioned and he landed in the Hudson River during an aerial demonstration at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The service member was retrieved immediately by the U.S. Coast Guard personnel who were specifically standing by in vessels to support the event, and transported to Jersey City Medical Center for care.
The accident occurred at approximately 12:10 p.m. today during a planned Fleet Week New York event that featured a coordinated parachute jump by the Leap Frogs.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to his family, and I ask for all of your prayers for the Navy SEAL community who lost a true patriot today,” said Rear Adm. Jack Scorby, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic.
The incident is under investigation and the service member’s name is being withheld until family notifications are complete.
