Nathy Odinson, a 33-year-old British skydiver, has lost his life after attempting a base jump from a 29-story residential building in Pattaya, Thailand. Odinson was originally from Cambridgeshire, UK, and had been living and working in Thailand.
The event took place on a Saturday night, January 27, prompting a police investigation into the reasons for the jump and why the parachute did not function as intended. Odinson was an employee of a skydiving school in Pattaya, often helping clients with tandem jumps.
The fatal jump was from the rooftop of the Lumpini Ville Naklua tower block, an action deemed unlawful in the bustling seaside city. On the night of the incident, Odinson’s preparations and subsequent leap were captured on film by a friend.
Odinson, visible in the footage checking his gear and counting down before leaping, was observed to have a malfunctioning parachute after the jump. The skydiver made contact with a tree before fatally landing on the ground.
Emergency medical personnel pronounced Odinson dead upon their immediate arrival. A 33-year-old security guard, Kanet Chansong, witnessed the incident and detailed hearing a tree’s rustling and a woman’s scream prior to discovering Odinson’s body. Chansong stated that after investigating the noise source, he realized someone had fallen from the building.
Under the leadership of Police Lieutenant Kamolporn Nadee, deputy inspector of investigations at the Bang Lamung district police station, the Pattaya police are conducting an exhaustive investigation. They are scrutinizing the faulty parachute and the video footage recorded by Odinson’s friend. Upon their arrival, Lieutenant Nadee noted that Odinson’s parachute was not centered as it should be and described the scene as “terrible”.
According to security staff at the Lumpini Ville Naklua tower block, this was not Odinson’s first jump from the building and he had been previously cautioned about the illegality of base jumping there. A guard revealed that Odinson and his friend were producing content for social media and were cognizant of the building’s policy against such activities. On the night of the accident, CCTV showed Odinson and his friend initially sitting in a car outside the building until things were quiet. Then he sneaked into the building and up onto the roof.
The British Embassy in Bangkok has been informed about the incident, and a representative for the UK Foreign Office confirmed their support for Odinson’s family. The skydiving community has expressed their condolences on social media.
The tragic event has underscored the inherent dangers of unauthorized base jumping in populated areas. The Thai police’s investigation is ongoing, with a focus on determining the precise cause of the parachute’s failure and the legality of the jump. Forensic officers are examining the parachute, and additional inquiries are being made into Odinson’s actions leading up to the jump.
Base jumping, which involves jumping from fixed points like buildings or cliffs and using a parachute for descent, can pose significant risks to both the jumper and bystanders when performed without proper authorization or under dangerous conditions.
