Skydiver's Parachute Gets Tangled with Helicopter [Video]

Startling footage shows the moment when a skydiver's parachute opened just as he was about to leap from a helicopter over Bedfordshire.

A skydiver had a narrow escape after his parachute deployed prematurely and became tangled with the helicopter he was flying in over Bedfordshire last Friday.

Footage of the dramatic incident shows how the daredevil's deployment bag and pilot chute came loose after his parachutes closing pin was dislodged just as he prepared to jump. Video under:

In a flash, the tangled diver - known only as 'Dobby' - was cut free by a quick-thinking fellow parachutist and safely completed his jump using his reserve parachute.

However that was not the end of the drama as his three fellow passengers were then left desperately attempting to haul the trapped parachute back inside the aircraft and away from danger and the helicopter's rotor blades.

After several minutes of struggle the chute was finally pulled back inside allowing the pilot to safely land the helicopter.