A British man miraculously survived after plunging 11,000ft when his parachute malfunctioned during a skydive over the Nevada desert.
Mitchell Deakin, 24, was carrying out a tandem jump from the Jean Airport, Clark County, alongside an instructor during his ‘dream’ US holiday when disaster struck.
Both the main parachute and emergency chute failed, sending both men spinning out of control before plummeting to the ground at around 35mph to 45mph, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported.
A witness identified as a different skydiving instructor told investigators he noticed the student and instructor’s parachute was ‘not working as well as it could have,’ according to Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Deakin, from Lytham St Anne’s, Lancashire, and his American instructor Jiron Arcos Ponce, 54, both survived the incident on September 17.
However the pair were left critically injured and rushed to the UMC trauma unit in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Deakin – also known as Mitch – suffered severe injuries including a fractured pelvis, broken ribs, perforated lung and a damaged kidney.
Despite the ordeal, Mitch has made a recovery and celebrated his 25th birthday on Tuesday with his mother Janine Deakin by his side. Ponce, however, remains in a critical condition.
Mitchell Deakin, 24, was carrying out a tandem jump from the Jean Airport, Clark County, alongside an instructor during his ‘dream’ US holiday when disaster struck
The pair plunged 11,000feet before their bodies hit the desert floor at around 45mph
The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the incident. In the meantime, Mitch’s partner, Isabel Clacher, has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to help cover the medical expenses incurred following the accident, raising over £16,000 so far.
Isabel, a professional dancer, said: ‘As some of you will already know, Mitch was involved in a sky diving accident in Las Vegas on 17th September 2025.
‘This accident has left Mitch with extreme injuries including a fractured pelvis, broken ribs, pneuomothorax (perforated lung) and a kidney laceration.
‘Mitch has now had surgery in America where they have put metal plates in his pelvis, so it will not collapse in on itself’.
She also told donators that her partner was having liquid drained from his lung and was unable to stand or walk for a time.
‘As well as this, this has been extremely traumatic for him and his family and friends, as he is so far away from home,’ Isabel added. ‘We all want him back in the UK safe, where he can be looked after by us all.
‘The donations made will go towards the rest of his recovery time in America paying for any necessary medical bills, transportation and accommodation, as we do not know how long it will be until he can fly home.
‘Mitch has told us that if there any donations are left over, he would like to donate them to a charity of his choice. We cannot thank you enough already for all the support through your kind words and messages.’
A follow up was also included on September 25, from Deakin’s mother, Janine.
It read: ‘The chest drain was removed yesterday so another step in the right direction.
‘The physio got him up and walking with a frame, he can’t weight bare on his right leg. So this was a bit tricky but he did it’.
The concerned mother revealed her son is now able to sit in a lazy boy chair instead of just his bed.
Seconds after leaping out of the plane strapped to a trained instructor, Deakin was facing certain death as their parachutes, including a back-up parachute, failed to properly deploy
Deakin (left) was in the States with his mates for a ‘dream holiday’ and had driven into the desert outside Las Vegas for the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ skydiving experience
The family recently discovered that Deakin has several more internal fracture injuries in his back, ribs, and pelvis than they initially knew about, but they were informed they would heal as they are all stable and held in place by muscles.
‘He was particularly exhausted yesterday but had a great sleep. A dietician has arranged food he does like so hopefully that [will] help him get stronger, he isn’t really eating very much,’ she added.
Despite the ordeal, Janine said Deakin remained ‘really positive’ and thanked the hospital team and close friends and family for the continued support.
You can donate to the GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mitchs-recovery-journey.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .