r/theydidthemath • u/Fizzerolli • 3d ago

[request] Assuming fresh powdery snow, how deep would it have to be for the paratrooper to survive, if possible?

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My son sent me this. My immediate thought based on nothing is that it’s unsurvivable regardless of the depth.

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u/TheTardisTravelr 2d ago

I've know two soldiers who survived their chutes not deploying properly. The first guy had a partial chute open so it slowed him enough to just really, really hurt. The second guy hit the ground, and bounced. Injured his spine real good. Few years of physical therapy, and a love of the infantry and he's jumping again.

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u/ournamesdontmeanshit 2d ago

Good spinal injures are very rare. Most injures of that type are very bad.