Scottish man dies during 'mysterious' skydive jump

The mystery over a 69-year-old man's death while skydiving continues even as investigations have been launched into the incident.

The Scottish man - James McConnell who was an experienced skydiver - had taken the jump in the Thai resort town of Pattaya with his friends. Skydiving centre Thai Sky Adventures had organized it all.

The centre and Thai authorities have started separate probes into the tragedy,

The centre says eyewitnesses had seen the man rolling onto his back and spinning in mid-air shortly after he dived. His parachute was deployed, but he did not steer it as he was about to land on the ground. Having missed the spot where he was supposed to land, he smashed into a reservoir. The man was rescued within seconds and attempts to revive him were made. But all went in vain.  

Thai Sky Adventures told BBC it believes the man might have had a heart attack or a stroke after leaving the plane. However, news portal Khaosod quoted police spokesman Col Chonnapat Nawalak as saying: "We have to check whether he died from the jumping or from drowning."

In a post on Facebook, McConnell's son Mark McConnell wrote: "It is with a heavy heart that I have to tell my Facebook friends and family that my dad Jim McConnell has sadly passed away.

"As soon as I can confirm what happened I will let you know but for now, the family and I would appreciate privacy at this difficult time! Blue skies to you all xxx.

"All of you who knew my dad will know that he went the way he wanted and no-one should feel sad, fly free my hero xx."  

This is the second death reported at Thai Sky Adventures. In 2016, a Russian instructor died during a jump, said Harry Harrison, director of flight operations at Thai Sky Adventures. However, he pointed out that the causes for both deaths could not be blamed on the centre.