Parachute jump almost ended in tragedy
A daredevil parachute stint for charity by five young Paisley men nearly ended in death for one of them.
Seconds after their first-time leap from a plane, some 2000ft up, novice John Brain got his parachute lines badly twisted.
Incredibly, he remained level-headed and did a scissor kick, which helped him do a mid-air spin, untangling the cords and fully opening the parachute.
Later, a laughing 25-year-old John told the Express: “I just did as the instructor had earlier told us during training. “It was almost instinctive. “When I think back it almost frightens me a little ... certainly, it was quite exciting.”
The unexpected mid-air drama happened weeks after five skiing pals, including John, joked about trying a parachute jump.
John revealed what went wrong on the jump.
“I wasn’t quite ready when deciding to jump out,” he said.
“Instead of going feet first, I toppled head first. I remember the cords twisting and the parachute did not open fully.
“I was falling fast and did a scissor kick, which spun me around.
“The next thing, the lines were OK and the chute fully opened.
“No-one knew what had happened until after a safe landing.”
Asked if he told his pregnant wife Lillian, he said: “Yes, she thinks I’m mad.”
They had a two-year-old daughter.
He added: “I don’t mind having another go. I think some of the others are quite keen.”