Skydiver knocked unconscious during mid-air collision in Ottawa
OTTAWA, Ill. (WLS) -- Two skydivers collided in midair Tuesday in Ottawa.
They were among the hundreds of divers participating in Summerfest at Skydive Chicago this week.
The licensed skydiver was knocked unconscious during the collision at about 11:56 a.m., according to a Skydive Chicago spokesperson.
WATCH: Ottawa police respond to midair skydiving collision
One skydiver landed at the airport, while the second landed in the Fox River, north of the Dayton Dam, according to the Ottawa Fire Department.
Both were transported to OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center.
Skydive Chicago told ABC 7 that both divers returned and were not hurt.
The mid-air collision triggered an Automatic Activation Device safety device called an AAD.
"It automatically deploys the reserve parachute once they hit a certain speed and altitude," said Anthony Ebel, Skydive Chicago's Safety Advisor.
Experienced jumper Scott Broughton says he's done hundreds of jumps and it's never deployed but he is glad to have it.
"I don't think that somebody else's incident really makes my safety more or else likely, I think it's up to me to take care of that," said Broughton.
Skydivers are not required to use an Automatic Activation Device but a Skydive Chicago spokesperson says they strongly urge jumpers to use them.
Officials say this was the only incident so far of the thousands of jumps that have taken place this week.
