Another attempt by the media to over-dramatize skydiving

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I received the following (excerpted) email, and I suppose they found me from the PCPRG web site and considered me an "expert", but I discouraged them from re-hashing yet another old skydiving video. This happened 15 years ago.

I instead told them that "heros" are to be found everywhere, and pointed them to Make-A-Wish foundation (who regularly arranges for Tandem jumps for kids with terminal illness), and to Jump for the Cause.

I urge you to do likewise if you are contacted. Let's try to keep the media focused on positive things about skydiving.



"I am writing from Darlow Smithson Productions, a TV production company based in London, UK. We are making a drama documentary about people that do heroic things in extraordinary circumstances. This series will be broadcast on the Discovery Channel in 2007.

We are hoping to speak with as many people as possible in this research stage of the programme with a view to finding an expert to contribute to an episode of the series.

We will be taking the story below ...

In 1991, Ronnie O'Brien saved tandem skydivers Mike Smith and Richard Maynard from certain death in Peterborough, UK. Mike Smith passes out mid-air after his 'drogue' chute bridle got caught around his throat on release. [Ronnie] decided there was not enough time to untangle the chute and so crawls over the tandem jumpers to release the reserve shoot. This was opened 2,000 feet lower than tandem jumpers normally would. He opens his own parachute at 1,400 ft. Once the reserve chute is deployed the stress is taken off the drogue thus allowing Mike to breath again and he regains consciousness and is able to safely land himself and Richard in a field Ronnie also lands safely. This incident was filmed by Ronnie throughout the jump."

(Particularly interesting was the request to discuss "alternate scenarios". If Ronnie got open at 1400 feet I don't think there was any alternative!)

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(Particularly interesting was the request to discuss "alternate scenarios". If Ronnie got open at 1400 feet I don't think there was any alternative!)

well if they all landed safely, it means they did everything correctly

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[Yossarian 0]

is this video online anywhere?

[phoenixlpr 0]

Sure, I have an original and authentic video about Leonardo Da Vinci flying his latest parachute design.

[piisfish 140]

I think it was on skydivingmovies

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[John4455 0]

I've seen that video before I'm pretty sure.

How do ya like it Johnny?

[JohnRich 4]

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is this video online anywhere?

It's been shown on TV before on other shows.

[Superfletch 1]

I'm not sure if it's online or not but I have seen the video on some of the "video" shows. I believe the Queen even knighted the man or at least gave him some sort of award for his heroic actions. It's really quite amazing video... The tandem pair is laying on it's side and spinning due to the drogue being wrapped around the TM's neck and the video guy flies in, docks and pulls the reserve. He most definately saved their lives. The video is old enough it could have even predated mandatory AAD's on tandems.

Gary "Superfletch" Fletcher
D-26145; USPA Coach, IAD/I, AFF/I
Videographer/Photographer

[tdog 0]

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I urge you to do likewise if you are contacted. Let's try to keep the media focused on positive things about skydiving.

The problem is that - this video is fun to watch for wuffos... In fact, secretly, I enjoyed watching it myself - because it has a "everything works out for the best when you keep trying" message...

The other problem is that the producer of this show wants to "rehash" the video - and if every reputable skydiver does not give them info they need to make a story, they will get someone less reputable or less knowledgeable or who enjoys being the center of sensationalism.

To give you an example, I was at two different DZs during to different incidents. One DZO and all the jumpers left out the back door to avoid the media at the front door and never returned the calls to the media. The other sent out a well spoken spokesperson to make a statement and answer questions. The DZ who gave clean, fair, honest, and accurate info to the media basically controlled the situation, while the other incident had speculation... Completely different end results to the same issue...

So perhaps an expert in this situation could still give the spin needed for our sport while rehashing the video.

"What you see in this clip is incredibly rare, and an example when everything goes wrong, often times our sport has enough redundancy and safety measures that the outcome is still positive. For an example..." "In fact, while definitely an adventure sport with risks like scuba diving or surfing, it is not just for the daredevils, in fact we can use our sport to fulfill a life dream for children with terminal illnesses. We would appreciate viewers to consider donating to their local Make-A-Wish chapter with funds earmarked for children dreaming of aviation."

[cpoxon 0]

Do you know if they have attempted to contact Ronnie himself?

Probably a bit late now, but might have been a good idea to remove the name of the production company to prevent somebody from presenting themselves as an expert. Want me to edit it?

Skydiving Fatalities - Cease not to learn 'til thou cease to live

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Do you know if they have attempted to contact Ronnie himself? Probably a bit late now, but might have been a good idea to remove the name of the production company to prevent somebody from presenting themselves as an expert. Want me to edit it?

I don't know if they have contacted Ronnie.

If you feel like you need to edit, then yes, but I mentioned their name to help people recognize who I was talking about.

If someone contacts them posing as an expert then that would be unfortunate. (Considering that the only thing they would stand to gain from it would be having their name mentioned somewhere it would seem to be a lot of trouble for the worth too.)

In posting that I'm trying to appeal to everyone's sense of pride in our sport. We generally try to be positive, while the media often (usually?) focuses on the negative.

[mdrejhon 8]

These TV producers have a way of keep trying until they find someone that is willing to help. I agree about what was said.

If anyone here from media deciding to produce that show, decides to read this thread, please educate the audience about including a 5 minute segment near the end that explains modern innovations, such as AAD's (This segment helps explains the changes since 1991 and 2006). Try not to stigmatize skydivers negatively. For example, say something positive like "...Skydiving is a fun sport just like mountain climbing and scuba diving. Each sport has their own risks. Many of us think we skydivers are crazy people, but when we see these amazing people in perspective with mountain climbers, scuba divers, army troopers, and other people -- then skydivers don't look nearly as crazy. See our special about our mountain climbing survival story next week...". (Helps legitimatize skydiving: It's not the only dangerous sport, and reminds the mainstream not to stigmatizing skydivers: There's been way too much negative media).

The last time the non-skydiving media approached me about skydiving (in relation to Rainbow Boogie), it resulted in this positive article:
Article - Skydiving for a Rainbow

If you get involved in the media, try to be as involved as much as possible in the proofreading process. A number of errors were made that I had to correct. It CAN be a positive process. So far, I've had a 100% success rate with positive impressions with non-skydiving media. (It also helps if you have also worked temporarily in the media before: Know how your enemy behaves and they may not quite be the enemy you thought of.)

Another approach: "I'll help you with this show, provided you also make another show about Jump For The Cause or similiar cause, within 12 months". (mitigation measure: Sensationalism vs. Good Cause). Besides, this is Discovery Channel -- they may be sensationalist sometimes, but their stuff is often fun to watch.

I agree that covering "Jump for the Cause" is a better idea. Please cover that. But I totally understand some producers are just going to produce something anyway. Just turn it into something positive for both skydivers and non-skydivers.

(Fresh mind here, not contaminated by negative media experience in skydiving)