The man and the spectator had to be taken to hospital after the accident in front of thousands of onlookers.

Paul Jordan, 24, a member of the Royal Artillery Black Knights Parachute Display Team, was left with a broken ankle after he lost control of his parachute during the demonstration and fell awkwardly.

The woman who was in the crowd was momentarily knocked unconscious after being hit by some of his equipment. Both were taken to Derby City General Hospital and later released.

It is believed that a third person was also taken to hospital with a broken wrist, after being injured as they ran to help at the scene.

Mr Jordan was part of the four-man team performing at the carnival on Saturday, June 27. Onlookers have said he veered off course and was unable to control his descent.

Carnival visitor Janet Brambilla, from Little Eaton, was manning the nearby scout stall.

She said: "The first one came down fine, then the second man came down and it looked like he had gone too far over. He was coming down really quite rapidly, and he looked like he was struggling.

"Then he clipped the edge of the crowd as he fell and did this cartwheel in the arena. It looked like he landed on his head or his neck."

Mary Johnson-Evans, a member of the carnival committee said: "He plummeted to the ground in a heap and it was just dreadful for everyone, especially the children.

"He is lucky to be alive because there was one point that it looked like it was a fatal fall."

Mr Jordan was treated at the scene by members of the Derby Mountain Rescue Team, who had been demonstrating safety equipment nearby.

A member of the Duffield-based team said: "It was lucky that our members were close to hand. We wish the man a speedy recovery."

A local GP and nurse, who were part of the crowd, were also able to help out, before Mr Jordan was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Carnival organiser Derek Cook said: "We were very fortunate that so many people were there to help because they were able to do the right things.

"Apart from that, the general consensus in the village is that it was the best carnival we've ever had. We had to actually move people off when it ended at 10.30pm. It was a very nice family occasion."

An investigation into the cause of the accident will now be carried out by the army.

Mr Cook said the health and safety measures at the carnival had not been called into question as there was nothing the committee could have done to prevent the incident.