DULUTH, MINNESOTA: A US Navy Leap Frogs parachuter was reportedly injured upon landing at the recently held Duluth Airshow in Minnesota. The incident took place on Saturday when two parachuters were reportedly performing a trick.
The US Navy, famous for being one of the best guardians of the sea in the world and one of the most combative and technically astute groups of armed forces, boasts a number of departments, and the Leap Frogs is one of them. It is the official parachute demonstration team of the US Navy and takes to the skies in death-defying stunts. However, the maneuvers are not always safe and can have major consequences, like what happened in Duluth.
The parachuters are said to have had their legs interlocked, and one of them failed to unlock in time, leading to the incident, as per the Northern News Now. Shocked eyewitnesses described the incident as “jaw-dropping sad.” The extent of the parachuter’s injuries is not known at the time of writing, and he has been taken to Lifeflight to Essentia Health-St Mary’s Hospital.
What are the United States Navy Leap Frogs?
The Leap Frogs regularly take on challenges and death-defying stunts that leave those in attendance awestruck. They demonstrate the best-in-class Navy Special Warfare training. The parachuters join the group after years of extensive training and more years of real-life experience.
The group comprises personnel who have worked in the Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC), Divers (ND), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians (EOD), and Aircrew Survival Equipmentmen (PR). They are one of the most highly accomplished bodies of the Navy.
The parachuters dive from the height of 12,000 feet from the back of airplanes. They often have to think on their feet in critical situations and have to have exceptional positional awareness. They usually serve three years in the Leap Frogs before returning to their respective units.
The Leap Frogs: History
The US Navy Leap Frogs started their journey in 1969 when the Underwater Demolition Team members volunteered to perform at air shows. In 1974, they got their current name from the Chief of Naval Operations and were subsequently tasked with demonstrating the might of the Navy all over the United States.
In this regard, the Leap Frogs undertake a demonstration of their might during their tour and can even perform stunts from around two miles above the ground. The West Coast team of 15 is mainly responsible for keeping their traditions alive and bewildering fans around the country and the world.
