Overview
- Authorities identified the victim as 28-year-old Mani Chandra Teja Gaddam and said he fell about 30 feet when a sudden gust disrupted his parachute.
- First responders took Gaddam to Athol Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
- Jumptown Skydiving described the incident as appearing to involve an unpredictable small whirlwind called a dust devil, but that assessment is preliminary.
- The Massachusetts State Police detective unit assigned to the Northwestern district attorney’s office, the Orange Police Department and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are conducting the investigation and will determine cause and manner of death.
- Reporting and a family GoFundMe say Gaddam had recently earned a USPA A license, held a Northeastern master’s degree and that the fundraiser has raised more than $40,000 to support his family.