Marine from California dies in Arizona parachuting operation

COOLIDGE, Ariz. – The U.S. Marine Corps has suspended certain parachuting operations after the death of a corporal this week in Arizona.

Marine officials say 22-year-old Alejandro “Alex” Romero of Carson, California, was taking part in a multi-mission parachute course exercise Monday outside Phoenix when he died.

Phoenix TV station KTVK reports that witnesses called 911 after seeing someone fall from the sky tangled in a parachute. They performed CPR on the skydiver until paramedics arrived and took him to a hospital, where he died.

Marine officials say a preliminary investigation is underway and all double-bag static line parachuting operations have been suspended effective immediately until further notice.

Family members told the TV station that Romero had recently gotten married.

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Information from: KTVK-TV, http://www.azfamily.com/