bar poll

[Alex]

PAGE TOP!

 

See you at Ballard Grill

 

[ 04-16-2002, 10:16 AM: Message edited by: Alex ]

[Scott_J]

Do Canadians lose their judgement when they drink American beer?

 

Sky diver hurt in leap off MacKay

CRITICAL: Visiting Canadian badly injured in 14-story jump when chute malfunctions.

By Nicole Tsong

Anchorage Daily News

(Published: April 16, 2002)

A visiting Canadian sky diver leaped from the MacKay Building around midnight Sunday and learned a harsh lesson when his parachute failed to open completely.

 

Police said Kenneth Kell, 32, plunged 14 stories from the roof, past scaffolding and gaping windows to the surrounding construction area, where his landing was cushioned only by 6 inches of snow.

 

The resident of Ontario, Canada, was taken to Alaska Regional Hospital with broken bones in his legs and pelvis and a collapsed lung, police said. He remained in critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit, according to a friend.

 

Two women who were at the East Fourth Avenue site with Kell to watch him jump, told police he was an experienced sky diver but had little practice with what is called base jumping, parachuting off of structures.

 

"There's not much to tell," said Krysia Price, an Anchorage resident. She said Kell was in town visiting. She would not elaborate about the incident until she had spoken with Kell's parents.

 

Police spokesman Ron McGee said Kell may be cited for trespassing or endangering the lives of other people.

 

Kell apparently got past or over the fence that surrounds the building, which is undergoing extensive renovation. He jumped about 12:30 a.m.

 

Officers responding to the fall climbed the fence to reach Kell and medics cut part of the fence to carry him out, McGee said.