Fatality at Texel : Adrian Nicholas

[GT]

With deep regret and sorrow we announce the death of Adrian Nicolas
this saturday 17 september 2005 at around 3:30 pm.

Adrian was a highly experienced British parachutist with many
thousands of jumps. During his 8th jump this afternoon he performed an
expert landingmanouvre. During this correctly executed manouvre his
AAD opened his reserve parachute at aproximatly 300 feet. His body was
pulled in a horizontal direction because both parachutes were open.
Just before he hit the ground he tried to correct this by release his
main canopy. Even so he made such a hard landing that he died on the
scene because of his injuries. CPR and emergency responds helicopter
personel weren't able to save him.

Our compasion goes out to his girlfriend, daughter, family and
friends.

Paracentrum Texel

[Paul]

Sad news....jumped a couple of times at Headcorn with Adrian. A great loss
to the family of skydivers.

Paul

"GT" <brick...@mail15.com> wrote in message
news:ljvoi1dglfh50esid...@4ax.com...

[Bryan]

Terrible news.
Couple of years ago Saw the TV documentary about him doing a record wing
suit jump from 35,000ft and how inspirational it was.
Spoke to him a couple of times at BPA AGM's he was a realy nice guy.
Condolence.
Very sad loss

[Colin Fitzmaurice]

This is very sad news. Adrian was a friend.

BSBD :(

Colin Fitzmaurice http://www.theparachutecentre.com
The Parachute Centre
Tilstock Airfield
Whitchurch
Shropshire SY13 2HA
UK

+44 1948 841111

[skyblu3]

My condolonces to his family and friends. It really makes me sad that
we have lost a guy like this. He was a great pioneer and spokesperson
and above all a really nice guy.

I met him in 1995 at Skydive Arizona. I had gone there to do my AFF.
Adrian was doing jumps with Olav Zipser, I think they were modelling
clothes in freefall (Adrian was the model, Olav was behind the camera).
Skydive AZ is quite an intimidating place I was sharing the aircraft
with Joe Jennings & Rob Harris, Dale Stuart & Ray Cottingham, Omar,
Deuces r wild freestyle team, etc.. I felt like a fish out of water.
Adrian sat down with me at the bent prop bar and took a real interest
in how I was doing with my AFF. I remember he related some stories
about when he did AFF. He was probably the only person on the dropzone
who I can honestly say didn't carry the label 'sky god'.
I am sad to see him go especially when it's a freak accident like this.

Nick D'Ancona - Malta.

[david]

dude!

[John]

A huge shock, his repect of the dangers of the sport was an inspiration.

Adrian was a good friend and an amazing man. I owe him & Katarina a great
deal.

[Mick Cooper]

"GT" <brick...@mail15.com> wrote in message
news:ljvoi1dglfh50esid...@4ax.com...
>

sad as it is, maybe we can learn something from this.

Can you say what type of AAD he was using?

If it was a cypres - I suspect that quite a few people would like to know
about it.

Mick

[Fleafryer]

According to the guy (DZO Texel) who lent him the kit, it was a cypres2

[Mick Cooper]

"Fleafryer" <flea...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:z4RXe.14901$QU3....@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...

> According to the guy (DZO Texel) who lent him the kit, it was a cypres2
>
>

great, just what I've got...........

[lugnuts]

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 10:50:14 GMT, "Mick Cooper" <do...@spamme.com>
wrote:

> > According to the guy (DZO Texel) who lent him the kit, it was a cypres2
>
> great, just what I've got...........

Don't worry, you'll never be able to fly a canopy with the same skill
as he did.

[Mick Cooper]

"lugnuts" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:pff0j1djqub9j95bo...@4ax.com...

Thank you - I do so love to be patronised by a complete stranger, such as
yourself.

[Bryan]

"Mick Cooper" <do...@spamme.com> wrote in message
news:JwXXe.10456$ws4....@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...

>
> "lugnuts" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:pff0j1djqub9j95bo...@4ax.com...

Boys please dont forget what this thread was originaly about.
Respect

[Steve Watson]

All Round Nice Guy, very sad loss, 1st met him in Deland 1994 when he
was learning how to sit fly. He wasn't famous then, but you could tell
he probably would be. He wore an Alti on his foot (learning to sit
fly), but seemed to keep it on, most of the time, even when playing
volleyball. A natural entertainer.

Sincere Condolences, to friends and family.

Steve Watson

PS
There is a VERY interesting thread on:
Dropzone.com - Forums - Incidents - Fatality: Texel - Adrian Nicholas -
17 September 2005 .
Which is discussing the technical side in great detail.
OK, a lot of it is speculation and "what if's". But that's to be
expected in an "Incidents" forum.

[JJ]

Very very sad to hear this news, I spoke quite a few times with Adrian at
DZ's here and there and found him a totally approachable and nice guy -
without the crazy ego seems to go along side other people with similar
levels of experience, a very sad loss to the sport.

http://www.bpa.org.uk/skydive/pages/people/adriannichols.htm

I found the link above in another thread (dropzone.com) - I just wondered if
anyone knows if Adrians book about Patrick was ever published ? I would love
to read it if it was. Sombody should write a book about Adrians exploits, I
am sure he squeezed as much into his time on the planet as anyone. A true
pioneer.

J

[birdy]

gutted