A member of a professional skydiving team was killed after falling to the ground during a pre-game show organized by the team Tennessee secondary school.
Richard Sheffield, 55, was among a group of skydivers recruited to entertain spectators ahead of the Musket Bowl, the annual Washington County rivalry between David Crockett and Daniel Boone high schools.
Footage from the scene shows Sheffield, an experienced skydiver whose whole family also loves the sport, trying to land.
The trick seems to go wrong and Sheffield falls from the sky into the area behind the stadium.
He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Richard Sheffield, a hot skydiver, was killed Friday while performing for a crowd in Tennessee
Sheffield is skydiving to entertain the crowds at the Musket Bowl on Friday night
It looked like Sheffield tried a trick that went wrong
Sheffield was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead
“Today feels unreal and the hardest day of my life,” his son Stacey wrote on Facebook.
“Yesterday we lost one of the most important people in our lives, my dad.
“I’m very grateful for the relationship we had. We talked every day, several times a day.”
Sheffield and his wife, Kim, have been married for 38 years and are the parents of twin sons, Stacey and Casey.
Stacey added: “Being able to skydive with your dad is another level of cool.
“Dad loved speed more than anything, and that’s how he came out.
“People look at what we do and say it’s crazy, and well, maybe it is, but Dad lived life to the fullest and he taught us to do the same.
“He made an impact on everyone he met.”
Sheffield’s son Stacey said: “Dad liked speed the most and that’s how he got out.”
Sheffield was married to Kim for 38 years
Sheffield remembered as ‘best dad, husband and pop’
Sheffield is pictured with some of his grandchildren
The Sheffield family pictured at Christmas. His sons paid glowing tributes to their father
Stacey said his father was “a hell of a country guy and people liked to make fun of the way he talked,” adding: “But man, if I could hear it one more time…”
He concluded: “He was the best father, husband and dad.”
“Maybe you didn’t live to be 120 like you always said, but you definitely tried to get it at 55.
– Until we fly again, dad. I love you. Blue skies.”
Casey said their father taught them to skydive at the age of seven and said he lived with no regrets.
“To think that I can’t just pick up the phone to call him doesn’t seem real,” Casey said.
“He was the first person I called when I needed help. He was the rock of our family.
“He was the coolest, kindest, baddest dad and we were so lucky to have spent time with him.
“But one thing can be said for sure, he left his life with no regrets.”
Casey said his father was aware of the dangers but wanted to live life to the fullest.
“He knew the risks, we all knew.
“But he liked to go fast, and that’s ultimately how he got out.
“We enjoyed flying together and I’m grateful to have shared the sky with him.”
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