On April 26, Sergeant Major Szabolcs Gál (32), had an accident during a parachuting exercise when paratroopers from Szolnok were conducting their usual spring jump training. He was taken to the hospital in life-threatening condition and never left the hospital. Unfortunately, despite a series of operations and meticulous care, he died on the morning of May 11.
This article was originally published on our sister-site, Ungarn Heute.
The Hungarian Defense Forces announced on their Facebook page that Sergeant Major Szabolcs Gál, a member of the Hungarian Paratroopers, world champion, and soldier of the 86th Szolnok Helicopter Base, died May 11.
On the day of the accident, he was training with the 34th László Bercsényi Battalion for Special Operations of the Hungarian Armed Forces. The accident may have been caused by the soldier’s control line slipping out of his hand at a high altitude. According to witnesses, Gál must have hit the ground of the Szanda meadow near Szolnok at a speed of about 100 km/h.
Despite his young age of 32, Szabolcs Gál was one of the most outstanding Hungarian paratroopers and instructors. He had been active in skydiving since 2007. As an experienced jumper, the world champion had already completed more than 5,500 jumps.
Source: Origo
Featured image via the Hungarian Defence Forces’ Facebook page
