A man has died after an accident occurred when he was skydiving at an airfield.

The tragedy happened in the afternoon of 22 August at the Hibaldstow airfield in North Lincolnshire. The 44-year-old man has not yet been named by police but he is believed to be from Essex. It is understood that he had been part of a group skydiving event.

Humberside Police said yesterday’s death was not being treated as suspicious at this stage. Officers appealed for anyone who witnessed the jump or may have seen the man pack his parachute before his jump to come forward.

A spokesman for Humberside Police said: “A man was fatally injured following a parachute jump. Officers are now in attendance at the airfield and an investigation is under way. It is not being treated as suspicious at this time. However, we are still keen to speak to any further witnesses who have yet to come forward. Inquiries are continuing into the circumstances of the incident and a file is being prepared for the coroner’s office.”

The man who died had been taking part in a formation skydiving event at the airfield that involved over 60 jumpers from across the UK.

This death comes just six years after another man died in a similar accident at the airfield. 20-year-old Stephen Hilder died at the same airfield in 2003 after his parachutes had been sabotaged ahead of a competition.

The police launched a murder investigation at the time before concluding that Mr Hilder had cut his own parachute straps in order to commit suicide. It came to light after an investigation that he was in debt and had failed his military exams. However, North Lincolnshire coroner Stewart Atkinson said there was no evidence Mr Hilder had been murdered, nor proof that he intended to take his own life, and he recorded an open verdict.

The investigation into this latest fall accident is ongoing