A jumper noticed this wear to their pilot-chute bridle following a skydive. It is unclear what caused the damage—the link may have had a rough spot or its threads may have worn the bridle—but it occurred slowly over time. The jumper had noticed a minimal amount of wear in the same area years earlier, but hadn’t kept an eye on it and was surprised when discovering how bad it had gotten.
Although this damage was not catastrophic, it does highlight the importance of inspecting gear regularly. Areas where minor wear is noticed should receive increased attention.