A Chinese paratrooper rescued an unconscious colleague after their parachutes became entangled in mid-air, the military’s official newspaper reported on Thursday.

First Lieutenant Wang Rui, a team leader in the unspecified brigade, was making his 16th-ever jump, at an altitude of 800 metres (2,600 feet).

Wang jumped from the transport aircraft but right before his parachute was to deploy, he was struck by another jumper, Corporal Chen Sijie, and flipped upside down, according to the PLA Daily.

Corporal Chen Sijie (right) became unconscious during the mid-air collision, which left First Lieutenant Wang Rui upside down during the descent. Photo: Handout

After regaining his bearings, Wang realised his parachute was entangled with Chen’s chute – one of the most dangerous emergencies in military parachuting.