Birthday skydiver 'died with smile on face'
跳傘慶生，老翁「過世時滿臉笑意」
CHRISTINE KELLETT
December 10, 2009
An elderly man who lost his life on a birthday skydive this morning "died with a smile on his face," investigators say.
調查報告指出，一名為了歡度生日而參加高空跳傘的老翁，在今天早上「過世時滿臉笑意」。
The Surfers Paradise man had treated himself to the tandem thrill experience to celebrate his 70th birthday but lost consciousness shortly after leaping out of the two-seater plane, 10,000 feet above the Gold Coast.
家住昆士蘭州「衝浪者天堂」的老翁為了慶祝七十歲生日，參加了與教練同跳的雙人跳傘運動，尋求刺激的經驗；但在從黃金海岸一萬英呎（約三公里）高的雙人飛機跳出來後沒多久，他就失去了意識。
He died on North Kirra Beach in front of his family - who had gathered to watch him jump - after attempts to revive him failed.
在急救失敗後，他在北基拉海灘上去世，前來看他跳傘的家人皆隨侍在旁。
Police said it was likely the man had passed away as a result of a heart attack, however industry regulator the Parachuting Federation of Australia is investigating the incident and is due to prepare a report.
警方表示，他很可能死於心臟病發作，但跳傘業的主管機關「澳洲跳傘協會」正在調查此事，並將依此提出調查報告。
National Director of Safety Paul Osborne said the man had filled in a medical declaration form which did not detail any pre-existing health complaints and he was cleared as fit to jump.
跳傘安全委員會的保羅‧歐斯本說，這名老翁在填寫醫療聲明時，表示自己沒有任何健康問題，可以跳傘。
The man, who was born in New Zealand, had embarked on the tandem skydive with Gold Coast Skydive's chief instructor Robbie McMillan at 10am following 10 minutes of instruction.
該名老翁生於紐西蘭，他在十分鐘的講解之後上機，於早上十點與跳傘教練羅賓‧麥克米倫扣在一起跳傘。
"It wasn't a foreseen thing. He just slowly lost consciousness under canopy [after the parachute had opened]" Mr Osborne said.
「我們沒有預期會發生這樣的事情。他只是掛在降落傘下漸漸地失去意識。」
"By all accounts, he seemed to be very happy with the jump. He was enjoying himself and had a big smile on his face."
「根據所有跡象顯示，他對這次跳傘很滿意。他非常盡興，臉上滿是笑意。」
Mr Osborne said it was "not unusual for people to pass out" on skydives, especially when they were new at it.
歐斯本說，在高空跳傘時「昏迷並不算少見」，尤其是新手。
He described the man's death as "a tragedy."
他說，老翁的死是「一樁悲劇」。
"People do lose conscious under canopy. It's a rare occurrence but it does happen.
「的確有人會在降落傘下失去意識。這並不常見，但的確會發生。
"We don't really know what causes it. People become overwhelmed because it is a very, very big rush.
「成因還不為人所知。人們在非常、非常急迫的情形下，會承受不住。
"Skydiving is something that increases the heart rate dramatically. It's the biggest thrill you can experience.
「有時高空跳傘會讓心臟劇烈跳動。這是人們體驗到最刺激的經驗。
"We have had medical incidents occur in the past with experienced divers and non-experienced divers, but it is very uncommon."
「過去的確有富經驗的跳傘者與無經驗的新手出現醫療事故，但非常少見。」
Mr McMillan was said to be "extremely upset" by the incident and counselling had been offered for at Gold Coast Skydive staff.
據說教練麥克米倫因此事故而「極度沮喪」，黃金海岸跳傘組織的人員還為他提供心理諮商。
"The company is also working quite closely with the family," Mr Osborne said.
「跳傘公司也傾全力協助家屬。」歐斯本說。
The plane took off from Coolangatta airport about 10am with just Mr McMillan, the man and the pilot aboard.
該架飛機在早上十點於庫倫加塔機場起飛，機上僅有飛行員、麥克米倫與老翁。
From a height of 10,000 feet, it would have taken up to five minutes for the tandem pair to reach the ground before the man could be given CPR.
從一萬英呎跳下到能進行心肺復甦術之前，大概要五分鐘才能著陸。
The industry does not set a maximum age limit, but does make jumpers sign a medical waiver before taking part.
跳傘界並沒有跳傘的年齡限制，但會要求跳傘的人參加以前，簽署醫療事故豁免文件。
As a first-time jumper, the man would have received 10 minutes' instruction ahead of the jump.
對於第一次跳傘的人，在實際跳傘之前，會有十分鐘的講解。
As an instructor, Mr McMillan is required to complete 500 jumps and hold an instructors license before taking out thrill seekers.
像跳傘教練麥克米倫，他必須跳傘五百次，並持有教練資格，才可以從事雙人跳傘運動。
Source at here.
原文請按此。
生字 / 片語
by all accounts: 根據各方說法；根據種種跡象
canopy: （降落傘的）傘
CPR: 心肺復甦術（cardiopulmonary resuscitation）
incident: 事件
leap: 跳
lose conscious: 失去意識（參閱 pass out）
overwhelm: 受不了；不知所措
pass away: （委婉的說法）過世；往生
pass out: 昏倒（參閱 lose conscious）
parachute: 降落傘
revive: 甦醒；復甦
tandem: 一前一後地
thrill: 令人戰慄的；極度刺激的
waiver: 放棄（文件）；豁免（文件）
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