Skydiver perishes after he parts company with parachute mid-air

A man tragically lost his life at the weekend after he reportedly became separated from his parachute during a routine jump.

Authorities in Pennsylvania are investigating the skydiving accident which claimed the life of Ed Harney of New Jersey.

Officials found Harney’s remains in a wooded area in Monroe County on Sunday, according to a report from local station WNEP-TV.

The tragedy left the man’s friends and police mystified since Harney, 74 years old, was believed to be an experienced skydiver.

Harney’s parachute opened but eventually separated from him, authorities said.

“Something could have happened in the air. Something could have happened, you know, with the chute. We are not sure yet,” said Tom Yanac, Monroe County coroner.

The cause of death was pending an autopsy.

The Federal Aviation Administration has joined the investigation.

Harney was listed as being from the town of Paramus in the garden state. According to tributes posted on Facebook, he worked as a salesman for the Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership on Route 46 in New Jersey.

Sterling Taylor, one of Harney’s colleagues praised the dead man in a post on Facebook.

“R.I.P to our dear friend Ed Harney,” Taylor wrote. “He was more than just a coworker, he is family. You will be missed..”