Basejumper.com - archive

Stanislav had a pretty bad accident a few days ago in the South of France, he sustained a broken back which all things considered was extremely lucky not to be a lot worse. He's had surgery and everything is going really well but he hadn't planned for this and his stay in France is going to hit him financially.

I wanted to set this up for him as a chance for all the people he has helped in the suspension and base community to pay back for all the time and effort he has put in to help them, anyone who knows Stas will know that he's one of the most generous guys going with his time and skills.

I hope everyone that fits into that will be able to give a little to help the dude and maybe people that plan to ask for his help in the future.

Cheers everyone. Get well soon Stanislav

I heard it was a riser release. A very nasty occurrence which never ends well. If that's the case, I'd be very interested to know how it happened as I use and like 3 rings and often freak out about one letting go... Hope he makes a full recovery.

A riser release is almost always going to be the result of mis-rigging or a worn loop.

I injured my back on my 490-th jump due to partial malfunction of my equipment.



First of all -- I am actively recovering. My spine was fractured and the fracture is a serious one. But the doctors are saying that what happened is just short of a miracle. Nerves are somehow untouched, I was very quickly airlifted to the Montpellier hospital where I received emergency surgery. I had some metal put in my back, I can get up by myself and move about without crutches! Today I am being discharged from the clinic. Even considering the top standard of medical aid here, such speedy recovery is miraculous. Doctors cannot believe is an, to be honest -- me too!

I will be spending next several weeks in rehabilitation here in France I am not yet physically ready to go back to Russia.

Now a few words about this happened. I was jumping a lot all of last year and the lifespan of my rig was quickly diminishing. I was regularly disconnecting my canopy from the harness for the hook (container-less) BASE jumps. I don’t believe that anyone out there uses the 3 ring system as heavily as I do. As a result of this heavy use, despite being well treated, 3-ring system was a bit worn out on my rig. I am very diligent with my packing and with every pack job, I would check the cut away system: loops' condition, how deep the cut away cable is inserted, checked correct assembly. I've seen some really bad 3-ring assemblies, in various conditions and so seeing that my 3-ring and cut away cables in it were a bit loose did not bother me. As I have learned the hard way -- it should have.



As usual, there were more than one contributing factor. I was jumping from a 270m bridge, with a slider. I was doing acro: first a screw, then a slow gainer. I pitched a bit head down because there was not a great deal of height left. After the pitch, I reached out to grab the risers as I often do. At this point in time, due to my body position, slider came down very quickly and I got hit with a hard opening. At this point in time, my hands were already on the risers and as the canopy surged forward, I ripped out the cut away cable on my right riser with my hand. Essentially, I disconnected the right side of my canopy from the harness.



Then, I somehow miraculously, c caught the remaining left risers before they entangled, spread them out as far as I could with all the force I could put into it. That allowed 3 cells of my 245 OSP to inflate and saved my life: canopy began rotating, but part of it was still functioning. There was very little altitude left (which worked to my advantage) and I hit the ground while in this progressive turn.

Just before I hit the ground, I raised my left leg as I have metal plates in it and this leg absolutely cannot be broken! The impact was therefore spread across large portion of the body, onto my back -- which in turn was lucky too. Progressive turn of the canopy ate some of the impact energy. The field was freshly ploughed. A huge number of factors that worked to my advantage!

My friend Lewis from a British "Lemmings BASE" Team was jumping with me, exiting straight after. This person became another saving factor and I would be thankful to him for the rest of my life. He ran out to get an ambulance and got the doctors really quickly. A helicopter came very quickly too. I was lying an extremely awkward position, pain was excruciating, but I did not move at all until the doctors have cut away the rig off me, my clothes and turned me over. The medics told me that if I moved on my own, if I tried to turn over, I would have likely remained paralysed for the rest of my life.

Anyway, it feels like I was born in a bullet proof vest and used up all my luck here as well as, obviously, I reacted pretty well too. I am recovering at this extreme pace too. It has not even been a week and I am already up. Several people have told me that it is obvious that someone from above is looking after me. I do believe in faith and my mentor Leo Kopelchuk looking after me from Heaven.

I want to thank everyone who supported me, who was worrying and to the dudes from EXTREME FAMILY especially. Everything will be fine. I will be back in business soon.

- that one aussie guy at griset was supposedly failing harness ring (!?) on old fucked gear

Yes, apparently he thought it was too long.

I'm seeing that his yellow cable was loose and as he reached for his toggles he has accidentally snagged it and pulled it between the top of the MLW and the loop....?

From his account:

'Seeing that my 3-ring and cut away cables in it were a bit loose did not bother me. As I have learned the hard way -- it should have.'


'At this point in time, my hands were already on the risers and as the canopy surged forward, I ripped out the cut away cable on my right riser with my hand. Essentially, I disconnected the right side of my canopy from the harness.

so if the end of the housing was weakened / worn and the grommet already pulling out of the fabric a bit, he could have snagged the housing somehow with his hands and broken it at the grommet, any further movement from there would pull the yellow cable out of the loop.