Army commando injured in free fall parachute jump during NDP rehearsal

An Army commando was seriously injured when he lost control of his parachute during the free fall performance at the National Day Parade rehearsal on Saturday.

According to the Defence Ministry, 36-year-old Master Sergeant Chua Koon San had a hard landing during the rehearsal at the Padang at 6.15pm.

He was immediately evacuated to the Singapore General Hospital.

Mindef says his condition is stable.

According to Channel NewsAsia's video footage, prior to his landing, the freefaller appeared to have drifted from his intended course.

He then landed between the stage and the spectator stands at the corner of the Padang nearest the Esplanade.

Master Sergeant Chua, a veteran of some 800 freefall jumps, is now in the intensive care unit at SGH.

He is understood to have sustained injuries from the waist down, but is said to be recovering.

An eyewitness at the Padang described what she saw.

Chitra Veerapathiran, Teacher, Woodlands Ring Primary School, said: "This person was right above us. He came down all the way really fast and crashed onto the ground. He didn't move...we were very stunned at first, we were very worried and we didn't know what happened to him. As soon as he landed, all the medical officers came.They were huddled around him for a while and took him away on a stretcher after that."



I was reading thru newspaper and saw this news that caught my eyes.

Oh my God, I cannot believe it. Master Chua... sound familiar... is he the Master Chua that taught me airbrone a month ago? I don't know. If he is, He is such a good teacher, really hope he will recover soon.