Robert Stafsing, a 32-year-old skydiver, tragically lost his life in a mid-air collision in Strömstad. His family, grappling with the loss, reflects on his adventurous spirit and safety consciousness. As investigations continue, they seek answers to understand the accident that took him away.
Tragic Skydiving Accident Claims Life of 32-Year-Old Robert Stafsing in Strömstad
Tragic Skydiving Accident Claims Life of 32-Year-Old Robert Stafsing in Strömstad
Robert Stafsing, 32, was one of the skydivers who perished in Strömstad in August. Twenty-five days have passed. Without him. For his family, life is a rollercoaster, with some days being particularly tough.
"The other day, when we got out of the car, Vincent looked up at the sky: Which star is dad?" says Sara Johansson, his wife.
The family had concerns when Robert Stafsing began skydiving four years ago, especially after a serious parkour accident in 2012 and a friend's skydiving accident a few years ago, where Robert was the first on the scene.
"Skydiving is something I've never even wanted to watch. It felt dangerous, even though I understand it's not," says his father, Stefan Stafsing, 54.
"I told him: 'You have a child now, maybe take it a bit easier.'"
His mother, Sandra Drake, 52, never said anything, trying instead to live with the worry.
Yet, they all agree that the most important thing was to accept Robert for who he was: adventurous, life-affirming, energetic, and incredibly kind.
"Stopping him from skydiving would not have been him. We would have stifled him."
"It took years for me, but I got used to the worry. Instead, I tried to be involved as much as I could," says his partner Sara Johansson, 36.
They all emphasize how safety-conscious Robert Stafsing was. Suspenders, belt, and preferably a helmet too, was his method.
"He was extremely meticulous about safety. Incredibly focused and present. He evaluated, tried to improve. I tried to find peace in that," says Sara Johansson.
One way to balance the worry was to accompany him to the airport, watch him land, and be part of what was happening.
But on Saturday, August 16, she didn't quite manage that. Their son Vincent had been at a birthday party, and they were both supposed to go to Näsinge, the airport outside Strömstad, to meet Robert.
In the midst of everything, a message came from him: "You'll be here soon." Despite the stress, Sara took the time to send a bunch of hearts in response.
She is grateful for that today.
Those would be the last messages.
At 12:38, Näsinge airport raised the alarm. Two skydivers had collided at 4,000 meters. Both police and rescue services were alerted.
A while later, Sara Johansson received a call from a friend. She was just packing the last things and wasn't updated on the news flow, answering the phone cheerfully.
Her friend immediately realized: Sara knew nothing.
"I heard her lose her breath. She thought someone else had called me. Eventually, she told me someone had collided. 'Not Robert, right?' I said. Yes, she replied, it's Robert. And it doesn't look good."
"Then Time Stops"
Sara Johansson barely remembers the rest of the call. Her and Robert's son Vincent, 5, was watching TV. She called a relative who picked him up. Minutes dragged on.
Another person at the airport called and said the rescue services were working on the scene and doing everything they could. More waiting. And then came the worst news: Robert hadn't made it.
"Then time stops. No feeling anymore. A minute is endless. I wasn't angry at anyone, but I just wondered: Where is everyone? Aren't they coming?" says Sara Johansson, tears now streaming down her cheeks.
Sandra Drake, Robert's mother, received the news a little later.
"It felt like an eternity. I just broke down. I sat in the car, hid in a sweater, and just screamed: No, it's not true, it's not true."
Son's Question
They want to talk about what happened, as Robert would have wanted, they believe. All three wear sunglasses. They've cried so much that their eyes can't take it anymore.
At the same time, they try to continue everyday life, as normal as possible. Not least for five-year-old Vincent's sake.
"The other day, when we got out of the car, he looked up at the sky: 'Which star is dad?' That one, I said, pointing. 'Oh, good,' he said and went inside. But I don't know if he understands yet that his dad isn't coming back," says Sara Johansson.
"We help each other to protect him. We've said he's in heaven and that it's a cool place to be. 'But isn't he with us now?' Yes, he's probably here too."
In between, it's tough. Wednesday is an especially hard day, they noticed as soon as they woke up.
"I try to do things all the time, but sometimes you just can't," says Sara.
"Today, I couldn't even pay a bill," says mother Sandra.
It's a new reality they have to navigate. A life without Robert.
In October, the Swedish Parachute Association is expected to complete its investigation into how the jump could go so fatally wrong. Meanwhile, the police are investigating the accident under the classification of causing another's death. They have interviewed a large number of witnesses and are awaiting technical analysis results.
"Everything currently points to this being a terrible accident. Nothing indicates that a crime has been committed," says lead investigator Ulrik Wennberg.
For the family, the investigations are important.
"It would have been important for Robert too. You want answers, to know what happened," says Sara Johansson.
The family occasionally feels that Robert is "just away, doing something." He always had so much going on and often arrived last to family dinners.
"It's impossible to understand that he's not coming back. Completely impossible for the brain to comprehend. You don't want to understand it," says Sara Johansson.
Robert Stafsing will be buried on September 25 at 12 PM in the Magazine at Tjolöholm Castle in Kungsbacka. The family welcomes all who wish to say goodbye.