Florida man dies in skydiving accident in Chester County

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - A man died Saturday in a skydiving accident in Chester County.

Officials say 20-year-old Justin William Swaggerty, from Naples, Florida, was killed during the accident at Skydive Carolina.

Owner Danny Smith said the free-fall portion of the jump and the parachute deployment was “uneventful.” However, the skydiver struck an aircraft on the ground which resulted in his death.

Smith said Skydive Carolina is closing its operations until further notice.

“We are devastated by this loss," Smith said. "We are a tight-knit community living out our passions, but losing anyone hurts deeply. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased and our community.”

Skydive Carolina was founded in 1986 and is in its 34th year of operation.

“Justin was a caring son that was always happy and a smile light up a room he always dreamed of becoming a pilot and that is why he was in North Carolina for flight school. In his spare time Justin love to cook,fish, and help animals he used to love the beach and go to the gym He was all around a good person He will be missed,” Justin’s mother Laura Swaggerty said in a statement.

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