Off-duty soldier from Gislingham died after parachute failed to open

An off-duty soldier plunged to his death from the side of a Swiss mountain after his parachute failed to open properly, an inquest has heard.

Adam Roots, 38, had been taking part in base jumping at Lauterbrunnen on

July 25 last year when the accident happened.

The inquest today (Monday) at Suffolk Coroners Court in Ipswich was told that

Mr Roots, who lived at Hillcrest in Gislingham, was experienced in the sport,

having previously completed 45 jumps.

A report compiled by Swiss police mountain specialist Marc van Allmen

described how Mr Roots had jumped from the La Mousse launching site in

the Bernese Oberland and two friends had planned to follow him.

However, Gary Lincoln-Hope said he had witnessed the accident and after

making a parachute descent to reach his friend had alerted emergency services.

Mr Lincoln-Hope said in a statement to Swiss police: "It looked like Adam

had a problem opening his chute. When it opened it opened very little and he

crashed face down."

The inquest heard that Mr Roots had purchased the parachute for the Swiss

trip and packed it himself earlier that day.

Assistant Suffolk Coroner Dr Daniel Sharpstone said the Swiss police report

indicated that weather conditions at the time of the tragedy had been

"unremarkable" and there had been no interference with the parachute.

The La Mousse jumping site was categorised as red advanced, the inquest heard.

A post mortem examination concluded that Mr Roots, who was also an experienced skydiver with 600 jumps, died as a result of multiple injuries.

Dr Sharpstone recorded a conclusion that Mr Roots' death had been an accident.