A British special forces soldier has tragically died in a parachuting accident in South Africa.
Staff Sergeant Chris Good was representing Great Britain at the 10th World Canopy Piloting Championships in Pretoria when he lost his life on Wednesday, September 25.
Before joining the SAS in 2004, he was part of the Army’s elite Red Devils parachute display team, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Details surrounding Sgt. Good’s death remain unclear, but the SAS confirmed he passed away during the competition, which features events in speed, freestyle, and distance categories.
Just last month, he mentioned he had begun using a new harness designed for greater speed and distance.
In a video released by British Skydiving, the sport’s governing body, ahead of the championships, Sgt. Good expressed his enthusiasm, stating he had been competing in canopy piloting for a decade.
“The challenge for this year is that I’ve moved on to a new harness for distance and speed,” he said. “This is the first opportunity I’ve had to test it over water, and I’m learning how it alters everything we’ve been doing for the past eight or nine years with a conventional harness.”
In a tribute to him, British Skydiving described Sgt. Good as a “cherished member of the team and an exceptionally skilled skydiver,” adding that his loss “will be deeply felt within our sport.”
Skydive Netheravon, the base of the Army’s parachute association, expressed their sorrow, stating: “It is with deep sadness we mourn the loss of instructor and friend Chris Good. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
A letter from the SAS Association announced his passing to members, stating: “We are sad to report the death of Christopher (Chris) Good on 25th September 2024 while participating in the World Canopy Piloting Championships in Pretoria. He came to 22 SAS from 3 Para, passing SAS selection in 2004. He served in 2 Troops A Squadron and also with E Squadron (22 SAS).”