Fatal skydive accident victim identified as Rochester man

Searchers fan out from the Skydive New England facility headed westward into thick woods as they begin their search for the body of a Rochester man today. (Rochester Voice photos)

LEBANON, Maine - The skydiving instructor who died during a failed tandem jump on Thursday has been identified as a Rochester man.

Brett Bickford, 41, somehow became detached during the jump shortly after their freefall had ended and the parachute had been deployed, John MacDonald, a public information officer with the Maine Warden Service, said this morning around 8:45 a.m.

MacDonald said some 20 Game Warden personnel as well as 7-10 K-9 teams would be conducting a grid search through thick woods today to try to recover the body.

MacDonald said there is no likelihood that Bickford could have survived the several-thousand-foot fall.

His tandem student, an unidentified male, landed without incident near the normal landing zone, MacDonald said.

Searchers are expected to use both aircraft and drones today if the skies clear sufficiently.

Several distraught family members were also on hand today at the Upper Guinea Road skydive facility.

The search began Thursday afternoon shortly after they realized Bickford was missing around 2 p.m. An aerial search employing aircraft and drones as well as a ground search was called off at sunset.

MacDonald said officials are uncertain what caused the two parachutists to become separated in midair.

Officials said on Thursday Bickford was not wearing a backup parachute.

MacDonald said there are witnesses to the event, but declined to elaborate on what they may have said happened.