FAREWELL TO A TRUE HERO
Para who repeated Arnhem jump last year dies, aged 97
‘Terrifying but wonderful’
ONLY months ago, he repeated the terrifying parachute jump he had made in one of the war’s most daring operations 75 years earlier.
But now Sandy Cortmann, a veteran of the bloody Battle of Arnhem, has died, aged 97.
The daredevil former soldier, from Aberdeen, hit the headlines last year when he repeated his heroics to commemorate the anniversary of Operation Market Garden.
The 1944 airborne attack in occupied Holland was designed to capture key bridges and secure an invasion route into Nazi Germany.
Mr Cortmann was 22 when he leapt from a plane and into the gunfire of the Battle of Arnhem, part of Operation Market Garden.
He was later captured by German troops and became a prisoner of war. Recalling the battle, Mr Cortmann said: ‘When the fighting started we were just in amongst it.
‘You can describe it as brave, you thought you were brave, but once you got down there, Jesus Christ, terrified, absolutely terrified.
‘You just heard bangs and machine guns. I didn’t understand what that was all about.’
Footage of the pensioner’s parachute jump on September 17 last year was viewed around the world after being shared on social media.
Defence Minister Johnny Mercer led the tributes to Mr Cortmann, who passed away on Saturday.
He said: ‘Gutted to have to report that Sandy – a combat veteran of Arnhem who I jumped into the 75th anniversary commemorations with last year in Holland, has headed to the final RV [rendezvous] in the sky.’
Bob Crocker, a fellow member of the Aberdeen Airborne Alliance, said: ‘We’ve not only lost an Airborne brother but also a friend and a gentleman.’
Mr Cortmann described re-enacting the parachute jump with the Red Devils as ‘thoroughly terrifying but wonderful’, adding: ‘When the door opened I thought, “Christ, what a way down.”’