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Tourist dies in parachuting accident in Zante

A British holidaymaker has died on the Greek island of Zante while base jumping with a parachute.

Jake Simkins (42) was jumping off a cliff at Navagio beach in the north west of Zante when the accident happened.

Local police officer Siats Sotiros in the town of Alikes said the parachute got snagged on the cliff face.

He told the BBC that the Briton was stuck for three hours while emergency services attempted to rescue him on Friday, but fell to his death before he could be reached.

A witness said Simkins crashed into a cliff face and became stuck on the rocks.

Dutch tourist Corne van der Eerden said: “We heard a flapping sound and saw what we thought was a guy sky-diving or parachuting.

“He crashed into the wall – it looked to be about 60m high.”

He added, “I shouted out to him and he said he thought he had broken his leg. He said he had his mobile phone on him and was going to call his wife.

“I told him to be careful but he said he was going to hang on tight. Our boat arrived then, so my wife and I had to leave.”

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