British skydiver Nathy Odinson, 33, died following a base jump from a 29-story apartment building in Pattaya, Thailand. 

The incident, which occurred on a Saturday evening, January 27, has sparked a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the jump and the malfunction of the parachute.

Odinson, originally from Cambridgeshire, UK, had been residing in Thailand and was employed at a skydiving school in Pattaya. He was known for assisting customers with tandem jumps. On the evening of the incident, Odinson attempted a base jump from the roof of the Lumpini Ville Naklua tower block, a practice considered illegal in the busy coastal city.

The jump was being filmed by Odinson’s friend. Footage showed him preparing for the leap, checking his equipment, and counting down before jumping. However, after his jump, it was observed that the parachute failed to deploy correctly. Odinson subsequently hit a tree before landing on the ground. 

Paramedics who arrived quickly at the scene pronounced Odinson dead. Kanet Chansong, a 33-year-old security guard who witnessed the incident, recounted hearing the sound of a tree and a woman’s scream before discovering Odinson’s body. Chansong stated that he realized a person had fallen from the building after investigating the source of the noise.

The Pattaya police, led by Police Lieutenant Kamolporn Nadee, deputy inspector of investigations at the Bang Lamung district police station, are conducting a thorough investigation. They are examining the malfunctioning parachute and reviewing the video footage recorded by Odinson’s friend. Lieutenant Nadee noted that the parachute used by Odinson was not centered as expected and described his condition as “terrible” upon their arrival.

Security staff at the Lumpini Ville Naklua tower block reported that this was not Odinson’s first jump from the building and that he had previously been warned about the illegality of his actions. A guard mentioned that Odinson and his friend were creating content for social media and were aware of the building’s policy against such activities.

The British Embassy in Bangkok has been notified of the incident, and a spokesman for the UK Foreign Office confirmed their support for Odinson’s family. Friends and acquaintances from the skydiving community have expressed their condolences on social media.

Odinson’s death has raised concerns about the risks associated with unauthorized base jumping in urban areas. The investigation by the Thai police is ongoing, with efforts focused on understanding the precise cause of the parachute’s failure and the legality of the jump. Forensic officers are involved in the examination of the parachute, and further inquiries are being made into Odinson’s actions leading up to the jump.

Base jumping involves leaping from fixed objects, such as buildings or cliffs, and using a parachute to descend safely. However, when executed without proper authorization or in hazardous conditions, it poses significant risks to both the jumper and bystanders.