Gwinnett skydiving instructor killed in freak accident

A longtime skydiving instructor from Gwinnett County was killed Saturday during a parachute landing at Monroe-Walton County Airport, officials said.

Just before 2:40 p.m., Joseph “Joe” Bennett "misjudged his turn from final approach to landing," close friend and Bennett's boss Bill Scott told Channel 2 Action News.

Fellow skydivers gave him first aid until emergency officials from multiple agencies arrived, Monroe police Chief Keith Glass said.

Bennett was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he died.

Bennett, 49, of Buford, worked at Skydive Monroe, which is at the airport. Over the course of 20 years, he made more than 6,000 drops, Scott said.

Bennett’s friends lowered a flag to half-staff and went skydiving in his honor Sunday, according to Channel 2.

A GoFundMe page was set up to cover Bennett's funeral expenses.

In other news:

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach reports.

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