Man Dies After Medical Emergency During Skydive

Peter Zimmerli. (Facebook photo)

WARETOWN — A man who owned a home locally died after reportedly having a medical emergency during a practice skydiving jump Tuesday.

Peter Zimmerli, 68, of Staten Island but who reportedly owned a home in Waretown, and who was an avid skydiver with more 5,000 jumps under his belt, died near the Perris Valley Airport in California, according to family and reports. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Family members said on social media Zimmerli died from hemoperricardium, a condition where blood fills the sac around the heart, and was possibly related to a heart attack Zimmerli had days earlier.

“Blues skies, dad. I love you immeasurably and know you’ll always be looking down and watching over us. Blues skies,” his son, Jonathan, of Los Angeles, said in a public Facebook post Oct. 10 about his father’s passing.