Skydiver killed during NSW jump died ‘trying to protect teen’

A skydiving instructor who died yesterday during a tandem jump in NSW reportedly used his last moments to help save the life of his teenage tandem partner.

Experienced skydiver Tony Rokov, 44, died yesterday after a strong gust of wind slammed him and a 14-year-old Canberra boy into the ground during a tandem jump in Goulburn.

The boy, a first time skydiver, survived the accident but is still in a medically induced coma and under observation.

Adrenalin Skydive head instructor Yaakov Bokay, who witnessed the accident, said Mr Rokov tried to protect the boy in his last moments, the Daily Telegraph reports.

“The way I saw the landing, Tony really twisted his body to protect the young passenger,” he said.

“It’s a brave thing to do.”

Mr Rokov, from Cronulla in Sydney’s south, had a wife and two children under the age of ten.

He had completed up to 5000 jumps during his career.

Despite skydives being called off on Friday due to strong winds, conditions were deemed safe yesterday.

A witness at the scene said the gust of wind caused the pairs parachute to fail. It is believed they were 20m from landing when they came into trouble.

“This whole damn great wind shear came through and just collapsed the parachutes, and they just dropped to the ground,” witness John King said.

The boy’s family had been watching when the fall occurred, and were supported by skydiving staff at the scene.

He was transported to Westmead Children’s Hospital where he has undergone surgery and is in a critical but stable condition.

Doctors say they need to wait for the swelling on his brain to subside before determining the extent of his injuries.

Police investigations are continuing but Adrenaline Skydiving announced on its Facebook page it is open for business today.