George "Chip" Steele was a skydiver instructor who died on January 31, 2009 during a skydive. It appears that Steele died from a heart attack. A soldier who was skydiving with Steele at the time, Daniel Pharr, survived the skydive despite being tied to Steele.WXII 12: Tethered Skydiver Remains Calm After Instructor Dies During Jump (February 2, 2009)
Steele's Death
U.S. Soldier Daniel Pharr, who had not skydived before, performed a tandem skydive with Steele. He was tied to Steele during the skydive, when Steele suddenly stopped answering questions.WXII 12: Tethered Skydiver Remains Calm After Instructor Dies During Jump (February 2, 2009) Pharr grabbed the toggles to steer and later said he had learned how to steer from watching television.WXII 12: Tethered Skydiver Remains Calm After Instructor Dies During Jump (February 2, 2009) Pharr said he performed CPR on Steele after landing, but it was not successful. Steele was later pronounced dead. It is believed he died from a heart attack during the skydive.WXII 12: Tethered Skydiver Remains Calm After Instructor Dies During Jump (February 2, 2009)