Terrifying moment Russian skydiver plunges to his death at contest dedicated to Putin

This is the terrifying moment a Russian skydiver plunged to his death during a competition dedicated to Vladimir Putin’s upcoming 71st birthday.

Dmitry Belyayev, 45, was filmed flying in at high speed from a height before hitting the water during a planned event in Gudermes, Chechnya.

The full video shows Belyayev spinning on the surface of the water before submerging.

Spectators are seen rushing to help the daredevil skydiver, a member of the Russian national team, as his parachute begins to sink.

The Russian University of Special Forces has organized several skydiving competitions tomorrow in honor of Putin’s birthday.

The Parachute Federation of Russia issued a statement saying: ‘The tragedy occurred while flying a high-speed parachute.

“According to preliminary data, the parachutist made a mistake during his landing approach and did not calculate the altitude of the maneuver, causing him to collide with the water surface at an increased vertical speed.

‘Rescue services were on site, including a mobile disaster medicine unit.

“Medical workers fought for Dmitry’s life from the first minutes of the collision and resuscitation measures were carried out on the spot.

‘Doctors could not save the athlete’s life.’

The federation said ‘this is an irreparable loss for the entire parachuting community’.

“We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased,” it added.

Belyayev was from Pushkin, near St. Petersburg, and had completed more than 3,700 jumps over the course of his career.

Canopy piloting (also called swooping) is considered very dangerous and involves a skydiver conducting dogfights over a body of water.

The parachutist is tested on speed, distance and accuracy.

Bystanders rushed to help after Belyayev’s misjudged landing in the water

Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured yesterday giving a speech on security and development in Sochi) will celebrate his 71st birthday tomorrow, October 6

In 2019, a parachutist in Russia died after falling 2,300 feet during a routine training jump.

Mikhail Prokhorov, 35, a paramedic, died on the spot when he hit the ground after both of his parachutes failed to open.

Prokhorov’s main parachute failed after he jumped from a Mi-8 helicopter.

The experienced jumper tried to open the reserve parachute, but the straps became tangled in the main parachute.

According to various accounts, his parachute cord then ‘got stuck around his neck’.

Its rescue team is based in the Sverdlovsk region and is deployed to aviation emergencies throughout Russia.