Photo: Darren Handschuh

A skydiver who hit a power pole Monday and had to be rescued by emergency crews after his parachute got caught up in the power lines says he is fine.

The parachutist spent the night at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. A CT scan and physical examination showed no sign of head injury, but he was kept overnight for observation.

Steven, who didn't give his last name, said he doesn't know why he blacked out and struck the pole.

“I remember the entire jump clearly and what I was doing, thinking, observing up until the time I basically blacked out just before I should have done my final approach,” he replied to Castanet's news story on the incident. “I was not under control or directing myself when I went the wrong direction and hit the power lines, then swinging into the pole.”

Steven said he is relatively new to skydiving, but has made several solo jumps in three different locations. He had nothing but praise for Okanagan Skydive and hopes the incident doesn't give the sport, or the club, a bad name.

“I can only say wonderful things about the emergency responders who took care of me, the hospital staff and, to be quite honest, the staff of Okanagan Skydive,” he said. “Okanagan Skydive spent more time than any other place I have jumped since I was eligible for solo jumps, doing safety training, procedural training, questioning and quizzing me and going over procedures and the jump itself. I felt more than confident in their coaching. They did comprehensive and multiple safety checks on the equipment with me.”

Steven said he was going approximately 20 km/h when he struck the pole.

“I am not an adrenaline junkie. In fact, I am the farthest thing from it,” he said. “I just enjoy the feeling of freefall. Most people would. People are going to pass all kinds of rash and unfair judgments. Judgments about me, skydivers and Okanagan skydive.”

Steven said the incident had nothing to do with the sport.

“If we don't figure out why I passed out, I will probably never jump again for risk of it happening again. This happened because of me and something physiological that happened in my body; not due to the act itself or anyone else involved. Don't pass judgement when you don't really know,” he said in response to previous comments on the story.

He encourages people to research skydiving, saying it is much safer than many people think.

“Many people in today's Western society avoid taking responsibility for their actions and choices at every turn. I can only look at myself here and reflect inward and make the best choices.”