WWII Veteran Sandy Cortmann Dies Aged 97

A Second World War paratrooper who parachuted to mark last year's anniversary of a major military operation has died aged 97.

Veteran Sandy Cortmann, from Aberdeen, passed away at his care home in the Scottish city on Saturday, his family have said.

Mr Cortmann was 22 years old when he jumped into the Dutch city of Arnhem, where he was taken prisoner by the Germans.

The act came as part of the infamous Operation Market Garden on 17 September 1944 - one of the most ambitious allied invasions of the Second World War.

The operation saw more than 35,000 British, American and Polish paratroopers land behind German lines by parachute and glider.

The ensuing Battle of Arnhem cost at least 1,500 British soldiers their lives, while Mr Cortman was one of almost 6,500 captured.

Last year, the veteran joined over 1,500 British, Dutch, French, Belgian, German, Italian, Polish and US paratroopers in recreating the drop 75 years on.

Mr Cortmann was 97-years-old and reliant on a wheelchair when he recreated his descent - the footage of the dive went viral on social media.

Cover image: PA.