Turf Moor crash parachutist 'taken out of service'

3:30pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

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A PARACHUTIST who crash-landed into a Burnley Football Club stand has been taken out of service.

But a senior officer at Wiltshire-based flying squad the Red Devils said Ben Cannon, originally from Todmorden, has not been suspended following his ill-fated jump into Turf Moor earlier this month.

Mr Cannon, a bombardier with the Royal Artillery, crashed into the stadium’s David Fishwick end roof shortly before Burnley were due to start their Championship clash against Ipswich.

It resulted in the game being delayed by 50 minutes and future pre-match entertainment being banned by the club following an emergency board meeting held two days later.

The British Parachute Association (BPA) launched an investigation into the incident and found that the crash-landing was down to “jumper error”.

However, Major Paul Blair, from the Red Devils, said the regiment had yet to receive the BPA’s report and Mr Cannon would not jump again until they were aware that the investigation was closed.

He said the 31-year-old was “on leave for a couple of weeks” but insisted he had not been suspended by the Red Devils - despite the removal of Mr Cannon’s profile details from the regiment’s website.

He added: “That was really to deflect attention from Ben but I think the greatest damage done was to his professional pride.”

Major Blair also said the regiment would continue to perform as pre-match entertainment, despite the Turf Moor debacle.

He added: “We are continuing with it and we have got more lined up.

“Let’s face it, parachuting is risky but with our procedures in place we minimise the risk and we do it time and time again.

“It’s just that on that day the gust of wind caught Ben off guard.”

Meanwhile, the Football League has confirmed that it wrote to Burnley following the incident to ask for an explanation.

However, it is understood it is unlikely the club will be fined, although it may be warned over future conduct.