Sam Cornwell, a 46-year-old videographer, died in a tragic skydiving accident in April this year when both his primary and reserve parachutes failed to deploy correctly. The incident occurred at the South West Industrial Estate near Peterlee, England, as Cornwell filmed another skydiver. Cornwell’s main parachute opened but became twisted, rendering it ineffective, and the reserve chute also malfunctioned.
CCTV footage captured the horrifying moment when Cornwell collided with the roof of a building. Senior environmental health officer Jan Bostock shared details during a preliminary inquest on September 16, 2024, revealing, “We have got the imagery of the person he is being paid to take the video of. They appear to shoot off when it is actually their descent that is slowing.”
Cornwell, who was well-known in the skydiving and videography community, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities launched an investigation, with experts analyzing the altimeter, GoPro footage, and other equipment used on the day of the incident. The coroner adjourned the case for further investigation, indicating the need for a jury to assess the technical factors involved in Cornwell’s death.
Sky-High Skydiving, the company operating out of the airfield where the jump occurred, expressed their deep sorrow over Cornwell’s passing. “We are all deeply saddened by the loss of a close friend, colleague, and talented member of our team, our skydiving family,” a spokesperson said in a statement following the accident.
Tributes from Sam Cornwell’s family and friends poured in after his passing. His sister Toni publicly expressed the family’s deep sorrow, reflecting on how much Sam meant to many people and how loved and missed he would be. Friends and colleagues described Cornwell as a kind, caring person deeply passionate about his work.
His best friend, Jerrie Mallon, struggled to understand why such a tragedy happened to someone she considered the most kind and caring person she had ever known.
Mallon also mentioned that her son, Walter, would now grow up without knowing his godfather, further highlighting the loss felt by those close to Cornwell.
The inquest into Cornwell’s death is ongoing, with investigators seeking to determine the precise cause of the parachute failure and whether any negligence was involved. The final hearing is set to reconvene in January 2025, with potential recommendations for safety improvements in the industry.
