Nearing His 100th Jump This Year, a Colorado Father With Incredible ‘Zest for Life’ Dies During a Skydiving Incident in Texas

The thrill, adrenaline, and joy that one gets from skydiving is what attracts people to it. Defying all odds and challenging themselves to pull off a feat that many consider a death warrant is something that divers live for. There is something quite majestic and beautiful about jumping out of an airplane and floating in the sky amidst the clouds. This thrilling sport, having its own set of risks, lead to the fateful end of one man.

That is the beauty of the sport and what makes the act commendable. One such skydiver from Colorado, who was close to completing 100 dives from the skies, set out for another during a skydiving event in Texas. Jacob Todd, a man known to have a “zest for life,” met with a tragic accident last week while skydiving.

Skydiving adventure turns to tragic tale

The unfortunate incident took place as he started his descent from the airplane. His parachute malfunctioned and did not open in the middle of the dive, leading to the fatal and tragic death of the 36-year-old adventure lover.

His family, while speaking to the media, said that he embraced the Colorado spirit in its truest essence. He was not just skydiving; he was also into rock hunting and racing cars. It is still unclear as to how and what led to the parachute malfunction even a week after his death.

His brother Bryan expressed great grief at the sudden passing away of Jacob but made it a point to not wallow in sadness but celebrate the free spirit and exciting life he lived.

“He and his daughter were just really something special together,” he said. “I think one of the things that Jake taught me is compassion,” Bryan added. “Jake was the type of guy that would give you the shirt off of his back. Who’d give you the last of something he had if it’s what you needed.”  

Family celebrating life

Jacob is survived by his daughter, father, mother, three siblings and grandparents, based on the information in his obituary page. His family set up a GoFundMe to help cover the funeral expenses and also provide for his daughter, who shared a lovely equation with him.

Also Read: VIDEO: Skydiving Goes Horribly Wrong as a Couple Tries Out a Dangerous Hand-Holding Stunt Mid Air

Determined to continue and take his legacy forward, 9-year-old Juene has promised to indulge in skydiving, rock hunting and keep his spirit alive within her.

“Jake completely embraced the Colorado spirit, and I’m going to miss him, but I’m really proud of him,” said his father Dave. “I fully intend to make sure through his daughter and the rest of my children we’re going to keep that legacy alive.” 

While there will always exist dangers in adventure sports like these, people who actively engage in them must be celebrated. Jacob’s legacy will not be the one tragic accident but the free spirit he passed on to his daughter and the positivity he left behind. His family will certainly feel the void, but his daughter will ensure he lives on through her.

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