A young man who died in a skydiving accident had traveled with his father to indulge his love for skydiving.
Liam Newman, who lived in Brisbane but was born in Taupo in New Zealand’s North Island, died around 10am on Tuesday after a group jump ended in disaster at a rural property in Tarawera, western Queensland.
The 25-year-old participated in a five-day skills camp at ‘Funny Farm’ with hundreds of other experienced skydivers and jumped from the plane shortly after 8am with four others.
His best friend, Cody Mason, told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Newman’s jump went perfectly until the last 10 meters when he looked left and hit the ground.
Mr Newman’s father, legendary skydiver Brett, immediately jumped behind him and tragically witnessed his son’s fall.
After landing, she rushed to her son’s aid and was by his side when he breathed his last nearly two hours later.
“Liam was so experienced, he jumped out of the plane, and the parachute opened,” Mr Mason told this publication.
‘Everything was going well until the last 20 to 30 feet when there was a freak accident with the parachute and unfortunately he hit the ground.
Liam Newman (pictured), who lived in Brisbane but was born in Taupo on New Zealand’s North island, died about 10am on Tuesday after a group jump ended in disaster at a rural property in Tarawera, north of Goondiwindi in western Queensland.
The 25-year-old was participating in a five-day skills camp at ‘Funny Farm’ with hundreds of other experienced skydivers when he jumped from the plane shortly after 8am with four others. His father, legendary skydiver Brett, tragically jumped behind him (father and son pictured together)
‘He lived for two hours. They were working on him, and (alive) when the helicopter got there, but he died at 10 in the morning.’
Mr Mason said Liam’s father Brett used to be a tandem skydiving instructor and even helped with fatality investigations, before setting up a skydiving equipment and rigging company called Downward Trend.
‘Brett has done over 15,000 jumps. He loves the skydiving community. He has seen disasters before, but clearly not his own son,” Mason added.
‘He rushed to his aid and helped him until the last minute.’
Mr Mason, who has known Liam since he was six, said the pair were selling the house they owned together.
Liam works for his father’s company, in addition to his role as an instructor at Brisbane’s iFLY Indoor Skydiving centre.
“We are devastated at his death and will work in a limited capacity in the coming weeks when we can to prepare Liam the most amazing post,” wrote Downward Trend on Instagram.
‘We love you boy… you are forever in our hearts.’
A spokesman for the Australian Parachute Federation said Mr Newman had successfully completed more than 600 jumps during his two-year career in the sport.
Mr Mason, who has known Liam since he was six, said the pair were selling the house they owned together (pictured: Liam and Cody together)
His father told Mr Mason his son ‘can’t do anything else’.
‘He’s done every course you can think of. He has been coached by the best men in the world,’ he said.
Mr Mason paid tribute to his ‘good’ friend.
‘Once he makes up his mind, he just wants to be the best. He’s just going to do it all the way to the top,’ he said.
‘I have a little boy and he just loves him, buys him all his toys, plays with him in the backyard. He loved everyone.’
iFLY Brisbane Indoor Skydiving, Mr Newman’s employer, said it was ‘very sad to hear that one of our staff members, Liam Newman, has had a fatal accident at a skydiving event in Western Queensland’.
‘He was a much-loved member of staff in our team, and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.’
The Australian Parachute Federation (APF) is leading an investigation into Mr Newman’s death, supported by police, who are treating it as non-suspicious.
A spokesperson for APF said Mr. Newman has successfully landed more than 600 jumps over two years.
“The man attempted a group jump this morning in an organized and trained event for experienced skydivers,” the spokesman said.
“It is understood the man’s parachute was open and working normally, but he fell hard and sustained serious injuries.
‘Four other skydivers landed safely. First aid was administered and arrangements were made for him to be transported to hospital via helicopter, but unfortunately he did not survive his injuries and died at the scene.’
