Posted on 11/28/2018 7:54:49 AM PST by ETL
An experienced skydiving instructor who plunged to his death while flying tandem with a student in Maine deliberately released his safety harness to commit suicide, state police revealed Monday.
Brett Bickford, 41, of Rochester, N.H., died on Sept. 27 after he separated from his student and fell a mile to his death, Maine State Police said.
The unidentified student landed safely with the parachute and quickly contacted police. Bickford’s body was found the next day about 750 feet southwest of the Lebanon Airport runway by a search and rescue team.
Maine’s medical examiner concluded this week that Bickford’s death was a suicide.
“Brett was one amazing smart young man. Those who knew Brett know he had a free spirit of life to live one day at a time,” his obituary said. “Brett’s smile and laughter live on in all who knew him.”
A two-month investigation concluded Bickford loosened his harness midair and that it was an intentional act. Police said they spoke with other skydiving instructors and industry officials, who all concluded that no experienced skydiver would loosen a parachute harness by mistake, the Portland Press Herald reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
At least he didn’t take the student with him.
LEBANON, Maine — Investigators anticipate it’ll be at least several additional weeks before any findings will be released regarding the death of Skydive New England instructor Brett Bickford during a tandem jump.
Bickford, 41, of Rochester, died after he and a student became separated in midair during a jump on Sept. 27. Details have been limited as authorities have worked to determine how the separation occurred.
Maine State Police spokesman Steve McCausland said Wednesday that State Police continue to investigate Bickford’s death along with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“Because of the complexity of the case, I expect this will continue for several weeks,” he said.
When asked whether investigators have ruled out any potential causes for the skydivers’ separation, McCausland said, “There will be no conclusions until the investigation is finalized.”
Bickford’s obituary describes his death as a parachuting accident. The obituary also describes Bickford as a lifelong Rochester resident, a pilot, a drone designer and builder, and a 10-year employee of Skydive New England, calling him an “amazing smart young man” and a “free spirit.”
Bickford’s family has declined comment, citing a request for privacy.
A number of friends and students have posted warm remarks about Bickford on the Legacy.com guestbook attached to his obituary.
Skydive New England spokesperson Erin Becker has described Bickford as “an experienced skydiver who was definitely loved” by the local community. Becker has also said Bickford and his family have been in the hearts and minds of the company’s staff and students since Bickford’s death.
Becker has said her company would withhold further personal comment about Bickford out of respect to his family.
http://www.fosters.com/news/20181003/fatal-skydive-probe-called-complex
That’ll leave a stain.
Is that the guy?
I almost forgot. Where are the anti sky diving folks? Has attention hogg weighed in yet?
Maybe someone should check to see if Mr. Bickford announced to the world he had ‘dirt’ on Crooked H, and was ready to spill the beans to OANN.
There must be more to the story.
Clinical Depression?
Terminal disease?
Lost relationship?
Bankruptcy?
People don’t commit suicide for no reason.................
So many lost, confused young men nowadays.
Thanks, single mommies, Godless teachers and queer pushers. Thanks a lot.
As usual,suicide is so often a disgustingly selfish act...this time inflicted on the student, who will forever be tormented by it, and likely never go up again. Remember the ‘trans’ boy who jumped in front of a truck. That driver was scarred for life.
Gravity kills more people than guns.
Agreed.
Nope. Actually he was a rotten cowardly SOB. I feel sorry for the recovery people who had to shovel his reamins off the face of the earth.
“So many lost, confused young men nowadays.”
He was 41 years old,
.
“Those who knew Brett know he had a free spirit of life to live one day at a time,” his obituary said. “Brett’s smile and laughter live on in all who knew him.”
I’m extremely suspicious of people like this.
I was getting ready to add something similar. Suicides forget, or don’t consider, that someone—often family—has to discover the body and clean up the mess. My first thought on reading the story was the student.
He’s still trying to figure out how to ride his bicycle into the air to protest gravity.
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