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Providing An Adrenaline Rush For A Disabled Veteran

By MAGGIE MCMURRAY

Moapa Valley Progress

Retired Army Captain Edward Klein (left) went on a tandem skydive with Sammy Vassilev (right) of Skydive Fyrosity above the Moapa Valley. Once an Army paratrooper, today Klein is a triple amputee. PHOTO COURTESY OF SKYDIVE FYROSITY.

Local skydiving company Skydive Fyrosity recently had a unique experience. They hosted a unique jump with Retired Army Captain Edward Klein. The unique part is that Klein, who served 16 years in the Army; with tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan; is a triple amputee. He lost both legs above the knee, the right arm above the elbow, and three fingers on his left hand.

Klein was driving through Las Vegas on his way to Seattle with his fiancee Kim McDonald last April when they learned of Skydive Fyrosity. They decided they wanted to jump.

At that time, Fyrosity owner Sammy Vassilev was uncertain about the safety issues that Klein’s situation presented. Although McDonald went ahead and jumped that day, Vassilev asked Klein to wait until his next trip to Vegas. This would give Vassilev some time to do research to figure out if it could be safely done.

“The skydiving equipment is designed to work with the regular human body,” Vassilev said. “The straps use leverage to hold the body in place and I was concerned that the missing limbs might reduce that leverage and that the straps would not be situated to hold the torso safely in place.”

Klein, who used to be a paratrooper in the military, has previously jumped from many planes, and wanted to try it again.
“I was a paratrooper in the military, but comparing that type of jump with recreational skydiving is like comparing apples to oranges,” Klein said. “I love to ski, mountain bike, and kayak, and I wanted to jump again for the thrill of it. I guess you can say I like the adrenalin rush.”

Klein had previously jumped once as an amputee at a skydiving event designed specifically for amputees. He said that he really loved the experience.
When Klein came back through the Vegas area earlier this month, he met again with Vassilev. Vassilev had been doing research on how others had modified harnesses to make them safe for amputees to jump.

Klein let Vassilev carefully examine his body and his limbs and see how the harness would fit. Vassilev drew pictures and took measurements of his limbs and then asked for a little more time to prepare himself mentally and technically. He was ready when Klein returned a week later.
“In the end, we did some twisting and fastening on the harness that made it safe and I felt confident that we could have a successful jump,” Vassilev said.

Klein said that the jump was a fantastic experience. “The view coming down was breathtaking,” he said. “After we jumped, Kim and I drove up to Mormon Mesa to try to take in the view again and then we spent the rest of the day exploring Valley of Fire State Park. We had an absolutely wonderful time.”

Klein also had nothing but good things to say about his experience with Skydive Fyrosity. “Sammy is the consummate professional,” he said. “He is very deliberate and runs a quality shop. Safety is number one, but he makes sure that while you’re being safe, you’re still having a great time.”

Klein was not the only one touched by the experience. “The jump was a very spiritual experience for me,” Vassilev said. “I’ve had thousands of jumps with different experiences, but this one was a first. Edward was so positive and mentally strong. He motivated me in a way that said, ‘Hey, man, life doesn’t always go your way, but never give up. Keep a positive attitude and be mentally strong and you can get through it.’”

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