Nov 27 2004
Daily Mirror
Exclusive From Frank Thorne In Murwillumbah, New South Wales
Safety experts slam stars for 'mad' parachute leap
PAUL Burrell's terrifying parachute leap into the jungle was slammed by air safety experts yesterday.
They reckon it may have broken strict guidelines - because his tandem jump was made through thick cloud.
If found guilty, the Australian plane company and pilot face heavy fines and could even have their licences suspended.
Nine million viewers saw Burrell's terror as he and fellow contestants were parachuted in for the start of the latest series of I'm a Celebrity...Get me out of Here.
Just before he jumped from 12,000ft, the former royal butler squealed: "I'm scared like you wouldn't believe."
Show presenters Ant and Dec sneered: "The Rock turns to Jelly."
But last night experienced skydivers said they totally understood Burrell's fear - and attacked the apparent decision to jump through cloud.
One said: "I was horrified. What they did to those celebrities was totally irresponsible and stupid. What if there had been another plane or helicopter underneath them? It was the most foolish thing I've ever seen on TV."
Under Aussie regulations, special permission has to be given before parachutists can jump through heavy cloud. The Australian Civil Air Safety Authority confirmed an investigation is taking place. Video tapes are being studied after Fran Cosgrave and Nancy Sorrell were also shown apparently plummeting through cloud.
CASA spokesman Peter Gibson told the Mirror: "There is a strong possibility that regulations were breached."
He added: "Filming stunts for a glorified TV show is no excuse. It is purely a matter of air safety. We view this very seriously."
The weather conditions were so bad that Burrell and his tandem partner landed more than a quarter-of-a-mile from the drop zone.
There were also reports that the pilot had to use special satellite navigation just to find the zone because the cloud was so thick.
But a Granada spokeswoman insisted: "We used a fully accredited company with more than 30 years' experience. The celebrities were guided by them and jumps were only undertaken during moments of clear visibility."
