Something went horribly wrong during a skydiving jump in Ellington on Saturday afternoon.
A skydiving instructor from Connecticut Parachutists and a second person were doing a tandem jump when they came down hard into a tree on Franlee Drive and were seriously injured, according to State Police.
Witnesses said it appeared the jump did not go well from the beginning, but it is unclear what caused the problem, or if the parachute fully opened.
Both victims were men.
The instructor, Larry Mitchell, 64, of Hamden, was flown to the hospital by Lifestar.
The other victim, Eric Schafer, 23, of West Hartford, was rushed to the hospital by ambulance.
