Skydiver Slams Into Roof, Lands Between 2 Homes After Parachute Fails To Open Properly

A skydiver slammed into the roof of a California home before landing between two houses after his parachute failed to open completely.

The man survived, but suffered serious injuries following the incident in Oceanside--about 40 miles north of San Diego.

Authorities said the failed skydiving incident took place Friday after the man jumped from a GoJump skydiving plane based at Oceanside Airport, according to the Associated Press.

The man's parachute failed to open properly, leading to him dropping "at an accelerated pace" and striking the roof of a two-story house at around 5 p.m.

The skydiver, who was reportedly in his 30s or 40s, landed on the ground between two homes.

The 911 callers informed law enforcement officials about the fallen skydiver, and firefighters from Oceanside and Carlsbad arrived at the scene about eight minutes later.

The man was rushed in a Carlsbad Fire Department ambulance to another air ambulance that was waiting for him at an airport. The injured skydiver was then airlifted to a trauma center and received hospital treatment.

Although the man's injuries were serious, the officials said they were not life-threatening, according to the Charlotte Observer.

It is believed the severity of the man's fall was reduced because the partially open parachute prevented him from freefalling completely.

"The partially open chute prevented a complete freefall, but the landing was uncontrolled and at an accelerated pace," firefighters were quoted saying.

No injuries were reported to anyone on the ground.

Officials acknowledged that such accidents do not occur frequently.

"Skydivers regularly jump from the Oceanside Airport, and while accidents of this nature do occur, they are infrequent," the Oceanside Fire Department said, as quoted by CBS 8 San Diego.

A similar incident was reported last year after a 23-year-old skydiver plunged 3,300 feet to her death in France. The woman named Romane Hourcastagnou was skydiving near her home with 10 other people in Strasbourg when her parachute failed to open properly. It was unclear why the parachute failed to open and led to her death on the spot. The victim was an experienced parachutist, who had recorded over 100 jumps.