Skydiving is the ultimate thrill — at least that’s what people who love it say.

However, this extreme sport has serious dangers, and no story shows that better than the sad tale of Ivan Lester McGuire.

Even though he was a skilled skydiver, one big mistake cost him his life — and his eerie last words still give people chills today.

Nobody thought anything was off.

Skydiving is supposed to be exciting — a rush of air, a drop from the sky, and the amazing feeling of flying. For 35-year-old Ivan Lester McGuire from Durham, North Carolina, that excitement was more than just a hobby — it was his lifestyle. With over 800 jumps under his belt, he was not just skilled; he was respected.

Those who knew Ivan said he was careful and detail-oriented — “the most safety-focused person” one coworker had ever met. Yet, on a bright spring day in April 1988, fate played a cruel trick on him.

That morning in Raleigh, North Carolina, Ivan was preparing for his fourth jump of the day. He wasn’t just jumping for fun — he was recording a student and an instructor from the Franklin County Sports Parachute Center. It was a normal jump, something he had done many times before. But this time, everything went terribly wrong.