On March 18, 2024, at approximately 3:00pm the Lake Wales Police Department and other emergency personnel responded to the downtown area of Lake Wales in reference to skydivers landing off course. Emergency personnel located three skydivers in the area between Seminole Ave and Wiltshire Ave along Scenic Hwy. One of the skydivers was able to land without incident and sustained no injuries. Two other skydivers made hard landings, sustaining non-life threatening injuries. According to witnesses, two of the skydiver’s parachutes were fully open and the third appeared to be partially tangled. The two injured skydivers were transported, via medical helicopter, for treatment.
It was learned that the skydivers were among a group of 14 people who jumped from a skydive plane at an altitude of 14,500’ to practice crew formations. The skydive plane departed from and landed at the Lake Wales Airport, located at 450 S. Airport Rd. Lake Wales, FL 33859. Although a few other skydivers landed a little off course in nearby pastures, thankfully, there were no other injuries reported.
Initial story: Two Parachutists made hard landing in Lake Wales
