Skydiver dies after parachute fails to open during French Alps jump

A British skydiver has died after his parachute failed to open during a jump in the French Alps.

David Reader from Newnham on Severn in Gloucestershire was taking part in a BASE jump near the Mont Blanc massif in Sallanches earlier this month when his equipment failed.

It sent the 25-year-old plummeting to the ground, where he suffered a severe head injury, as well as injuries to other parts of his body.

He fell into a coma and was taken by helicopter to Sallanches and then transferred to Annecy hospital.

There his girlfriend and fellow skydiver Domi Kiger kept a bedside vigil, holding his hand.

But Reader's head trauma was too severe and he was pronounced dead the following day.

Now Kiger said she had been hoping for a miracle, but it didn't come.

Paying tribute to her boyfriend, she said: "Dave was the most incredible human being I ever met.

"The type you don't necessarily notice straight away, the best type in my eyes.

"He was kind, humble, gentle, incredibly smart, talented in absolutely everything he put his mind into.

"He was bright in so many ways. He was quiet and reserved but so warm, loving and fun to those who took the time to get to know him."

His organs have now been donated and his family hope they will save six people.

Before his death, Reader had been living in Norway working as a wind tunnel instructor for VossVind.

A spokesman for the company said: "He had an incredible development as a tunnel flyer that impressed each and everyone of us. We were lucky to have him as an instructor.

"Dave was a wonderful ambassador for VossVind on his travels around the world. Not just because of his mad tunnel skills, but for the person he was.

"He was kind, funny, with a lovely sense of humour, caring, inspiring, positive and simply amazing - we will miss him so much."