Christopher Swales death: British man, 55, killed in skydiving accident near Grand Canyon

A British man has been killed in a skydiving accident near the Grand Canyon.

Christopher Swales, 55, went into free fall during the dive in northern Arizona on Sunday, local police said.

His skydiving partner survived the fall but suffered a broken leg and was rushed to hospital.

Police said the skydivers encountered difficulties while approaching the landing area at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport.

"These difficulties caused the pair to free fall for an unknown distance and hit the ground in what was described as a 'hard landing'," Coconino County Sheriff’s Office said in statement.

Emergency services were called shortly before 10am and Mr Swales was later pronounced dead in hospital.

An investigation into the accident was ongoing.

The sheriff’s office said there were currently no signs that anything criminal took place.