I work as a skydiving instructor, and I can tell you that skydiving is far safer than the general public is willing to accept, especially tandem skydiving. Feel free to ask questions, but this was a solo (not tandem) jumper making a series of bad decisions.

Skydiving is actually probably the safest of all of those listed. It is safer than the general public believes. I work as an instructor in the industry.

It is considered a sport because you can compete in it. Canopy piloting, formations, etc.

You should try thanking them for their service to calm them down.

Could be either, honestly. Suicides happen in skydiving every year.

I work as an instructor in the skydiving industry and can say with absolute confidence that the military jumpers like seals are some of the most reckless and god awfully dangerous skydivers out there. We hate when most of those idiots come around because they do the most idiotic and dangerous stuff, then act like they’re better than you.

I work in the industry, and no parachute malfunction is a guaranteed death unless you do everything exactly wrong.

From what I’ve heard personally, it was an old timer who likely deployed the parachute low, had a malfunction and delayed trying to get rid of it and use the reserve parachute until he was about 100ft above the ground. Totally self induced at that point.