New video of the incident during Fleet Week festivities in San Francisco was released on Wednesday a Navy paratrooper landed on a teenage spectator, injuring her and her mother.
The video was made available by the family’s attorney, along with a press release providing an update on the injuries suffered by the two women. The incident occurred at San Francisco’s Marina Green on Sunday afternoon, October 14, when the Navy Leap Frog Team paratrooper missed the landing zone during a jump, striking and seriously injuring 17-year-old Millicent “Mia” DeGuzman and her mother . , Johanna.
The first-person cellphone video was taken by the teen seconds before the parachutist landed on her, revealing the confusion that led to the collision. In the clip, the parachutist can be seen gesturing with his arms for people on the ground to get out of the way as he quickly descends. The video suddenly pans to the ground as the paratrooper punches her, while grunts can be heard from several people at his impact.
The paratrooper is also heard asking, “Are you okay?” after landing on the girl and knocking her down.
The teen was taken to hospital where she was treated for two fractures to her pelvis. The broken bones required surgery to insert large screws to hold her damaged pelvis together. Her mother Jhoanna suffered a concussion and bruises.
“This was my first air show and I had no idea I was in danger,” Mia DeGuzman said in the press release. “I immigrated to the United States just two days before the show and was so excited to explore the city with my family. Now I can’t move without their help and doctors say I may never be able to do what I once could again. In addition to the physical pain, the emotional trauma is overwhelming: what should have been a joyful start to a new life here has turned into a nightmare that I relive every day.”
The family has not yet taken legal action, partly because they are still trying to determine the extent of Mia’s injuries.
“Unfortunately, once you file a claim, there is a strict deadline for when you can settle it or file a lawsuit, so for us, we are not ready to file a settlement claim,” Gomerman said. “That’s why we wanted to get all the information out, get the video out. So if it takes another year for her to recover, the Navy can still do their investigation. The city can investigate and make sure this doesn’t happen.” It won’t happen again.”
“There is no doubt that this is not what this paratrooper or the Navy wanted to happen, but unfortunately a young woman was injured and left with a mountain of medical bills,” Gomerman said. “She faces a long, difficult recovery and is unable to perform even the most basic tasks without the support of her family. It is a tragic incident that raises questions about safety protocols and responsibility at events with such high-risk displays.”
CBS News Bay Area has reached out to the U.S. Navy for response and has not heard back.
