A German man aged 40 died today in a parachute accident at Portimão Aerodrome near Penina.
According to the emergency services centre in Faro, Stefan Hewekerl was practicing for the annual 'Skydiving Algarve Spring Boogie' meeting which started on Saturday.
A second parachutist is reported to have been injured in the accident which brings the death toll at the popular aerodrome to three in the past 18 months.
The organiser, Paravalor, commented that the German was an experienced skydiver with about 400 jumps made. It is not yet known how the accident happened, although the organiser said it may be due to a cross-wind which is often strong in the Algarve. Stefan Hewekerl was reported to have hit the ground at high speed having made a steep turn and losing control of his parachute.
The skydiver jumped with others over the Vale de Zorra area at around 13.00, today, Tuesday March 25th 2014.
Emergency services were quickly at the scene and the authorities are investigating the possible causes.
This year's Skydiving Algarve Spring Boogie was promoted widely for bringing European skydivers and their families to Portimão's aerodrome for two month festival and for bringing money to the off-season local economy.
Last October, Ana Peixoto died at the same airfield as her parachute failed properly to open.
The year before, again in October, the Algarve lost one of its foremost fun-loving businessmen when Jonathon Wickham, the founder of Oz Shades, died in an accident that shocked and saddened many in the close-knit British expat community.
See:
Jonathon Wickham:
http://www.algarvedailynews.com/features/obituaries/1840-jonathon-wickham-october-2012
Ana Peixoto:
http://www.algarvedailynews.com/features/sport/1841-another-fatal-accident-at-portimao-aerodrome
