Officials: Skydiver dies in Zephyrhills after ‘hard landing’ during jump

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A skydiver is dead after what officials are calling a ‘hard landing’ while performing a solo trick Tuesday afternoon.

According to Zephyrhills Police, officers responded to Skydive City just after 3 p.m.

Officials said 27-year-old skydiver Thomas Barrett from Salem, Ohio was performing a swooping maneuver when he had a “hard landing.”

Barrett was rushed to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with severe injuries. He was pronounced dead just after 4 p.m.

According to Skydive City waiver records, Barrett was listed as an experienced skydiver with more than 1,000 prior jumps.