Dover Military Tattoo accident: Parachute display member taken to hospital

An Army display team parachutist has been taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford after slamming into the ground and knocking himself unconscious in the opening ceremony of the Dover Military Tattoo.

Some 2,000 spectators at the Connaught Barracks watched in shock as the member of The Tigers Freefall Team, made up of servicemen from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, came in to land at speed, appeared to become tangled in his parachute and crashed into tthe ground.

St John Ambulance medics rushed to the serviceman who was not moving. Medics, including a doctor from the audience, attended to the man for some 15 minutes before transferring him to a board and taking him by ambulance to the Ashford hospital.

Brigadier Simon Wolsley was among those who rushed to the man's aid.

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The compere for the event blamed high winds, saying that the accident may well keep the Tigers member "out of action for some considerable time."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the servicemen was conscious when he was boarded into the ambulance and had been able to squeeze a medics hand.

He added that the extent of the man's injuries are not yet known but tests would be carried out by the hospital.

An onloooker said: "His feet hit the ground and then his entire body slammed down. Then he just didn't move."

The show continued after the serviceman was taken away by ambulance.