Ottawa firefighter Jeff Dean died Wednesday in a parachute tragedy at the Arnprior airport. Photo by Ottawa Fire Services /Handout
Content of the article
An Ottawa firefighter and father of two died Wednesday in what police described as a “parachute accident” at Arnprior Airport.
Content of the article
Paramedics were called to Parachute Ottawa’s location at the airport just before 1 p.m., Renfrew Paramedic Service Chief Mike Nolan said. When paramedics arrived, they found workers and other people attempting CPR. They took over but it became clear the patient was unresponsive and the patient was pronounced dead at the scene. Police were also called to the scene, and officers could be seen Wednesday afternoon in a field next to Parachute Ottawa. Police tape surrounded the facility. “As far as what caused the accident, that’s still under investigation,” said Const. Brianna Roberge, spokeswoman for the Renfrew detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, told this newspaper Wednesday night.
Content of the article
Renfrew and Arnprior OPP detachments, the Renfrew OPP crime unit, the OPP forensic identification unit and the provincial Department of Labor were all investigating Wednesday. Investigators at the scene of the parachute tragedy at Arnprior Airport on Wednesday. Photo by Jean Levac/Postmedia Ottawa Fire Chief Paul Hutt released a statement on the death of firefighter Jeffrey Dean on Wednesday afternoon. This newspaper confirmed that Dean was the person who died in the parachute incident. Dean worked at the station at 12 Fifth Avenue and O’Connor Street. He joined the Ottawa Fire Services as a volunteer firefighter in 2010 and became a full-time member of the service two years later. In addition to his firefighting work, Hutt said Dean was “a dedicated volunteer” with an OFS program for teenagers interested in firefighting as well as a “beloved husband and father of two.” “I would like to send my deepest condolences to his family, friends and firefighting family during this difficult time,” Hutt said. Parachute Ottawa had not responded to requests for comment by deadline, but the company’s website says the drop zone is at Arnprior Airport and the landing area covers nearly 400,000 square feet. The company, founded in 2018, touts a team of instructors with more than 185,000 jumps of combined experience and “expertise that includes first jumps (tandems), civilian freefall, canopy training and military training,” the website said. Parachute Ottawa is based at the airport in Arnprior. Photo by Jean Levac/Postmedia
