A tragic skydiving accident over the weekend claimed the life of a father of six, Rodger Goltz, leaving his family in a state of grief and uncertainty about their future. Goltz, a 48-year-old resident of Jervis Bay, was an experienced skydiver who had been participating in the sport for many years. The fatal incident occurred on the NSW South Coast on Saturday while he was skydiving with his 18-year-old son.
Goltz was airlifted to a hospital in Canberra following the accident, where he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. His wife, Kelly Goltz, shared with the media that her husband had made a turn too low and fast due to wind conditions, which resulted in him landing at an incorrect angle.
Skydive Oz Moruya Heads, the company overseeing the jump, confirmed that Goltz’s parachute had deployed correctly. Paul Smith, the chief instructor and owner, stated that while the parachute functioned as expected, Goltz experienced a hard landing and sustained multiple injuries. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation.
The Australian Parachute Federation (APF), the national governing body for skydiving, has assured that the incident will be thoroughly investigated, as is the case with all serious parachute incidents. An APF safety and training officer arrived at Moruya Heads on Saturday night to initiate the investigation.
Charl Rootman, the APF safety and training manager, explained that the investigation will be conducted in collaboration with the police, and the findings will be submitted to the coroner. The investigation will review all relevant aspects of the incident to identify potential causes, contributing factors, and possible safety lessons.
Kelly Goltz recounted the traumatic experience of their son, Kai, who witnessed the crash but did not immediately realize that it was his father who had landed. It was only when he saw his father’s shoe on the ground that he understood the gravity of the situation.
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign was launched on Tuesday to support the family, raising nearly $20,000 so far. The organizer, Alaska Turner, described Goltz’s death as leaving an “irreplaceable void” in their hearts. The funds raised will be used to support Kelly, their children, and the rest of the family during this difficult time.
Goltz, who had completed nearly 80 jumps, was not new to skydiving. Smith, who was present at the drop zone during the incident, expressed his gratitude to the first responders and emergency services personnel who provided first aid and arranged for Goltz’s helicopter flight to Canberra.
The Goltz family, including their children aged between 14 and 25, are grappling with the loss of their beloved father. Kelly Goltz described her husband as a man who was always seeking the next adventure and who loved his children dearly. A memorial service for Goltz is expected to be held next week.