This is the moment a soldier taking part in a parachute training course plunges to the ground after his parachute fails to open – and miraculously survives.

The incident took place at the Tolemaida Air Base on the outskirts of the town of Melgar in the Colombian department of Tolima on Saturday, 9th October.

Luis Alfonso Garces Vila, age not stated, was taking part in a course at the School of Military Parachuting when he and his fellow soldiers jumped from a helicopter.

However, he plunged straight to the ground when his parachute failed to open and the harrowing footage was caught on camera.

Despite the footage showing him falling from a great height, he was found to be alive and was treated immediately at the scene.

He was then taken to the Dumian Clinic in the city of Girardot around a 45-minute drive away. He was reported to be in the Central Military Hospital in the capital, Bogota, on 11th October.

According to a statement from the National Army of Colombia obtained by Newsflash, the soldier’s prognosis is stable.

It was reported that one of his parachutes, presumably the backup chute, opened before he hit the ground, preventing what would have likely been a fatal fall.

According to reports, the man suffered several bruises and a broken leg.

Officials at the School of Military Parachuting have reportedly launched an internal investigation into why the equipment failed.

Twitter user ‘Agata Keyko’ commented on the video: “Thank you, my God, for favouring our soldier of the Homeland. God bless you, thank you very much for risking your lives for our country.”