Video Thai Paratrooper's Life-Saving Move Amid Mid-Air Chute Failure

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

 

In a dramatic moment that underscores the perilous nature of military training, a Thai paratrooper narrowly escaped disaster when his parachute failed to deploy during a routine training exercise. The incident, which took place on May 19 at Vajiravudh Military Camp in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, was captured inadvertently by a jogger who happened to be filming the exercise.

 

Soldiers from the 4th Army's Sichon Special Warfare Training Camp were conducting their annual parachute jumps when a near-calamity struck. As local media man Thewan Ketkaew jogged through the adjacent Somdej Phra Srinagarindra 84 Public Park, he observed the soldiers leaping from a helicopter, their parachutes opening seamlessly – until one did not.

 

The 49-year-old Thewan described the heart-stopping moment to ThaiRath reporters. “One of the parachutes didn’t open, he just plummeted,” he recounted. What followed was a frantic race to the nearby pond, as Thewan feared the worst.

 

A rescue boat was promptly dispatched, finding only the soldier's tangled parachute in the water. However, news soon emerged that the paratrooper, demonstrating textbook composure and quick thinking, had cut himself free from the malfunctioning chute and deployed his reserve, landing safely on the military grounds.

 

A senior officer praised the soldier's actions, affirming that his adherence to emergency protocols saved his life. “This is why we train. His actions were swift and professional, he saved his own life,” the officer stated.

 

Relief washed over fellow paratroopers and commanding officers as the soldier emerged unscathed from what could have been a fatal incident. The reserve parachute has rightfully been credited with preventing a tragedy, while Thewan's footage serves as a sobering reminder of the inherent risks faced by military personnel even during training.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-20

 

 

[Gottfrid]

Fantastic! A person that can follow procedure.

[mfd101]

Wow! No wonder I was never a soldier, or anyone who moved too far from a desk and a pile of books.

[Tom89]

More stories like this and fewer about ladyboy brawls in Pattaya. 

[rumeaug]

Nice move, not easy to pull-off for anyone who has ever jumped in parachute. many accidents even in elite troops due to parachute malfunctioning.

[Baba Naba]

Damn! Why did they stop filming the fall? He wasnt going to be able to help him until he hit the ground/water!!!

[Watawattana]

Glad the guy is safe, but what a great job by all the jump instructors in drilling in the emergency procedures to the guy!

[Watawattana]

2 hours ago, Tom89 said:

More stories like this and fewer about ladyboy brawls in Pattaya. 

Yeah, and the stories that just descend into bickering rather than balanced debate.

[Zapitapi]

well done soldier!!

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A rescue boat was promptly dispatched, finding only the soldier's tangled parachute in the water. However, news soon emerged that the paratrooper, demonstrating textbook composure and quick thinking, had cut himself free from the malfunctioning chute and deployed his reserve, landing safely on the military grounds.

Well done....

[Kinnock]

Looks like a jump from a low altitude - so he must have acted very quickly.  Well done to him and the training was effective too.

[Purdey]

Well, I'd vote for him!

[Jimjim1]

3 hours ago, Baba Naba said:

Damn! Why did they stop filming the fall? He wasnt going to be able to help him until he hit the ground/water!!!

Brilliant !

Another Ghoul has been denied the chance to get his rocks off by seeing the aftermath had this lucky guy had not been able to deploy his spare chute.

well done to all the instructors involved in this and very best wishes to the parachutist.

[Maybole]

I did several jumps in the early 197s. It was forcefully drummed into us IF THE MAIN SHUTE FAILS TO OPEN PULL THE RESERVE IMMEDIATELY DO NOT FART ABOUT TRING TO OPEN THE MAIN. I never had a shute failure but this man did exactly as he had been trained to do.