A skydiving instructor was critically injured after impacting heavily with the ground at Laguna Quays Resort near Midge Point on April 16 and has now been flown to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Douglas Ball, a 52-year-old skydiving instructor was diving with a group according to police when he “had something go wrong.”
Mackay Police Inspector Andrew Godbold said Mr Ball was solo diving with a group when the incident occurred during his descent.
“We understand his chute did deploy, it is just that he has impacted the ground fairly hard,” Inspector Godbold said.
Mr Godbold confirmed Mr Ball was skydiving solo rather than in a tandem drop when he suffered a “hard landing” at the site north of Mackay.
Queensland Health tasked the RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter with attending the scene of the incident, which occurred on Sunday at roughly 11.30am.
The group of skydivers with Mr Ball immediately called emergency services, according to Inspector Godbold.
A skydiving service has yet to be associated with the incident, with Laguna Quays Resort regularly used as a “drop zone” for skydivers in Airlie Beach.
Inspector Godbold said Mr Ball is local to the area.
A spokesperson for the Central Queensland Rescue Helicopter Service said the patient is at Mackay Base Hospital with critical injuries and said it was “a horror skydiving incident.”
“Please send your strength to those involved in the incident and the families,” the spokesperson said.
The helicopter crew rushed the 52-year-old to Mackay Base Hospital, arriving at roughly 2.10pm to be met by doctors on the helipad. He has since been flown to Brisbane in critical condition.
Further details are yet to be released.
The RACQ CQ Rescue Helicopter flew 52-year-old Douglas Ball to Mackay Base Hospital after he “had something go wrong” while skydiving near Midge Point and impacted with the ground.
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