Leo Baker & Sam Heyman

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This was posted earlier in the incidents forum.

Quote

It is with great sadness that I have to inform this forum of the latest developments in this incident.

Brabzzz's post gives all the details we know so far - basically just that there was a canopy collision, we don't know why it happened. ps5601's post gives the details of canopies and experience levels.

The two jumpers were Sam Heyman and Leo Baker of Bristol University.

Sam is in hospital in Marseille with multiple breaks and fractures and also a punctured lung. His consciousness level is improving, he has been speaking and eating which is very good. He is expected to remain in hospital for months rather than weeks.

Unfortunately Leo died this morning as a result of her injuries.

I will collect any messages for either of them from Talkback and pass them on to the families. I am also happy for friends of Leo and Sam to e mail me personally for Sam's address etc.

Further details that may be relevant but equally may not:

Sam was wearing a full faced helmet (a Z1)
Leo was wearing an open faced helmet (a Hurricane)
Sam had 10% vision in one eye from a childhood accident, however I have NEVER seen this affect him, he had adapted fully to it.
The accident occurred at approximately 8pm so the setting sun may have been a factor in limiting visibility, or may not have been.
Neither Sam nor Leo were aiming for a target (e.g. for the BPA IC1 qualificaton)

This forum now has all the information that is available. It is unlikely that Sam will remember the incident so we are unlikely to be able to answer any questions which may come up.

Thank you to all the people who have been so helpful in the past week, it's been horrendous. I can't think of any words that would express just how much we are all going to miss her. The fact that so many people will miss Leo is probably the best condolence her family can have: it shows just how much of a difference she made.

Please let's stay safe from now on,

Liz Ashley
Captain 02/03
Bristol Uni

So sorry to hear this Liz, sending vibes your way for all of you down there.

~BSBD~

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Another post worthy of a bump too.

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

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Hi Liz and others I know from Bristol Uni,

I'm not sure whether I ever met Leo or Sam in my Nethers days, but my thoughts are with you and their families in this hard time.

tash

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe