BREAKING: Skydiver Who Forgot Parachute Dies from Hantavirus

SKY VALLEY, CO — Local authorities confirmed Tuesday that 34-year-old skydiver Derek Harlan plummeted 12,500 feet to his death after forgetting his parachute, only to be pronounced dead at the scene from complications related to hantavirus.

According to eyewitnesses, Harlan exited the aircraft at approximately 9:17 a.m. with what officials later described as “a noticeable absence of essential equipment.” He was observed maintaining a stable freefall position for roughly 45 seconds before impact.

“While the lack of a parachute was certainly a factor in the rapid descent,” said Dr. Meredith Lang of the County Medical Examiner’s Office, “the official cause of death is pulmonary hantavirus syndrome. We found clear signs of rodent-borne viral exposure. The trauma from the ground was, frankly, secondary.”

Investigators believe Harlan may have contracted the virus weeks earlier while cleaning his garage, where authorities discovered “several concerning mouse droppings.”

Health officials praised his decision to go skydiving anyway, calling it “a reminder that we must remain vigilant about zoonotic diseases even during recreational activities.”

Fellow skydiver and close friend Marcus Reeves told reporters, “Derek was always forgetting little things—keys, wallet, that sort of deal. I guess the chute just slipped his mind. Still, it’s wild that the hantavirus got him first. Nature finds a way.”

The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation into whether proper pre-jump checklists were followed. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement urging all citizens to seal their homes against deer mice, adding that “high-altitude activities should not be viewed as a substitute for proper rodent control.”

Harlan is survived by his parents, his girlfriend, and the unopened parachute still hanging in his locker at the drop zone.

Funeral services will be held at St. Andrew’s Cemetery, weather permitting. Attendees are advised to wear masks.