File photo. Photo: 2happy/ 123rf
A photographer has died after being injured while skydiving.
The man was taken to Christchurch Hospital with critical injuries after undertaking a routine jump near Aoraki Mount Cook on 17 October.
He was jumping as a camera flyer, and was not in tandem with any customers or passengers, Skydive Mount Cook said.
In a statement today, the company said he had died from his injuries.
"It is with great sadness that we can confirm that our team member has passed away on Sunday, 22 October.
"We are devastated by the loss of our treasured colleague, and our thoughts are with his family during this time," a spokesperson said.
The Civil Aviation Authority has opened an investigation into the death and has sent two safety investigators to Twizel.
They will meet with the operator, complete a site examination, interview witnesses and meet with first responders.
Skydive Mt Cook said they were confident of their "robust systems".
"Initial investigations show equipment failure was not a factor, however whilst this investigation is still open, we will continue to work with local authorities and will be unable to make any further comments at this time," Skydive Mt Cook said.
The company's website said they had specially trained photographers who filmed people on their skydives.
The photographers would hang outside the plane waiting for people to jump, and then control their movements to join up with the jumper and film the best perspectives, the website said.
