Gregory P. Robertson rescued Debra L. William from falling, Coolidge, Arizona, April 18, 1987. Miss Williams, 31, and five other parachutists jumped from an airplane at an altitude of 13,500 feet. Their loadmaster, Robertson, 35, engineer, also jumped. Shortly into the fall, Miss Williams collided with one of the other parachutists and was rendered unconscious. Falling, Robertson witnessed the accident. In order to get to Miss Williams as soon as possible, he went into a dive, risking the possibility of falling too low to open his own parachute in time. Robertson reached Miss Williams, pulled the rip cord of her reserve parachute, and pushed her away. The parachute opened, and Miss Williams fell safely to the ground. At an altitude of about 2,200 feet, or 13 seconds from the ground, Robertson then opened his own parachute, and he too landed safely. Miss Williams was hospitalized for her extensive injuries, from which she recovered.
61879 – 7181
61879-7181