Goulburn skydive accident killed instructor Tony Rokov after parachute twisted
The 44-year-old man who died in a skydiving tragedy has been identified as a father-of-two as a 14-year-old remains in a critical condition.
Skydiving instructor Tony Rokov died instantly on Saturday around 2pm in a freak accident when a wind gust slammed the man to the ground in Goulburn, in the south of NSW.
The married father-of-two from Cronulla, in Sydney’s south, had died sheltering the 14-year-old Canberra boy strapped to him in a tandem dive, News.com.au reports.
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Skydiving instructor Tony Rokov died instantly on Saturday around 2pm in a freak accident when a wind gust slammed the man to the ground in Goulburn, in the south of NSW
Mr Rokov, from Cronulla in south Sydney, leaves behind a wife and two children under the age of 10
He was an experienced skydiving instructor with more than 5,000 jumps under his belt, and had been an instructor for eight years
‘The way I saw the landing, Tony really twisted his body to protect the young passenger,’ witness and Adrenalin Skydive head instructor Yaakov Bokay told News.
‘It’s a brave thing to do,’ he said, adding that it was a ‘freak thing to happen’.
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ShareMr Bokay had told Nine News that Mr Rokov was a ‘very tough bloke’ and a good person and friend.
He’d plummeted 20 metres to his death when a sudden wind gust caused the pair to change direction and crash land, even though their parachute had opened safely.
Two family members hug at the site where 44-year-old Tony Rokov died and a 14-year-old boy was critically injured
Friends and family console each other at the site of the crash (pictured) in Goulburn, south NSW
The teenager was airlifted to Royal Randwick Hospital in Sydney's east where he remains in critical condition
Mr Rokov had been an instructor for eight years and had done about 5,000 jumps.
The 14-year-old passenger, who was not known to Mr Rokov, in a critical condition had never jumped before.
Originally from South Australia, the 44-year-old leaves two children under the age of 10 behind.
The teenager was treated by emergency services at the crash site near the Gouldburn Airport and was then airlifted to the Royal Randwick Hospital in Sydney's east in a critical condition.
Emergency services, including a helicopter, were called around 2pm.
The pair involved in the accident were believed to have been part of a group of four participating in tandem skydives when the accident occurred.
Just a day prior, all jumping in the area had been cancelled due to the winds, according to Adrenalin Skydive’s Facebook page.
Conditions had reportedly been deemed safe on Saturday.
Adrenalin Skydive have confirmed on their page that jumps will be continuing on Sunday.
Investigations into the incident are underway, police say.
A diving instructor has died and a 14-year-old boy has been airlifted to hospital after a parachuting accident around 2pm on Saturday
The 44-year-old instructor who had more than 5,000 jumps died immediately after the pair fell 20 metres
Emergency services were called to the crash near Goulburn Airport in southern NSW just before 2pm
The pair involved in the accident were believed to have been part of a group of four participating in tandem skydives when the accident occurred
A freak gust of wind forced the parachute to close at about 20 metres above the ground, causing the pair to fall to the ground
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