A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) commando was killed in a parachuting accident in South Africa on Wednesday.

First Warrant Officer (1WO) Tan Poh Eng, 53, was participating in an SAF freefall training session in Bloemfontein, when he was killed.

The SAF regular was part of a six-man team that jumped off a Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 aircraft at a height of 12500 feet to conduct a formation jump.

While his team mates deployed their parachutes, 1WO Tan spiralled downwards to the ground, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

He was found unconscious at about 4.45pm (Singapore time), and was given immediate medical attention by an SAF doctor and a medic on-site.

He was evacuated by helicopter at 5.15pm and arrived at about 5.35pm at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein. 1WO Tan was pronounced dead at 5.57pm in the hospital.

1WO Tan was a parachute jump instructor from the Commando Training Institute, and part of a 51-member SAF Commando team participating in SAF freefall training which is being conducted from 27 April to 24 May in Bloemfontein.

The SAF says it conducts freefall training in South Africa once every two years.

All SAF freefall training has since been temporarily suspended.