Dramatic footage has emerged from the US of a professional skydiver dealing with a major parachute malfunction.

The video, shot on Sunday, shows Kate Hoffstetter spinning out of control while trying to cut the failed parachute free using the "cutaway handle" so she can deploy her reserve chute.

"This cutaway system is what we rely on," she later wrote online.

"I have cutaway and used my reserve four times prior to this without an issue, [but] this time the cutaway handle was stuck and would not move."

"I would not have survived without getting rid of this canopy," she continued.

"I screamed in the video because I knew I couldn’t move it.

"I ended up grabbing the small amount of exposed cable just above the handle to cutaway - I was pretty upset about it as you can tell."

Fortunately, Kate was able to land safely, but she sounds shaken at the end of the video.

The incident happened this past Sunday. I am an experienced skydiver with 15 years in the sport and over 8,000 skydives. When a parachute malfunctions we have a cutaway handle that allows us to get rid of a bad parachute so we can deploy a reserve parachute. This cutaway system is what we rely on. I have cutaway and used my reserve 4 times prior to this without an issue. This time the cutaway handle was stuck and would not move. I would not have survived without getting rid of this canopy. I screamed in the video because I knew I couldn’t move it. I ended up grabbing the small amount of exposed cable just above the handle to cutaway. I was pretty upset about it as you can tell.