Skydiving Instructor, Student Die After Terrible Accident

Skydiving Instructor, Student Die After Terrible Accident

As if 2024 hasn’t already thrown enough curveballs, we now have a heartbreaking skydiving tragedy to add to the ledger. Devrey LaRiccia Chase and her student Kayla Keiko Black, both just 28 years old, suffered a fatal accident during a tandem jump in California. This isn’t a case of malfunctioning equipment or reckless behavior—it was an unfortunate encounter with nature’s wily dust devils. So buckle up, dear readers, we’re about to dissect the nitty-gritty details of what transpired.

Details of the Incident

The incident took place on August 2 around 2:30 p.m. at an open field near Perris Valley Airport in Riverside County. Devrey LaRiccia Chase and her student, during a routine tandem skydiving jump, encountered not one but two dust devils. They managed to dodge the first one; however, the second dust devil sent their parachute spiraling downward, leading to a hard landing about 25 to 30 feet above the ground. Despite emergency efforts, Chase did not survive. Her student, Black, also succumbed to her injuries at the hospital two days later.

Dust devils, common in the summer and reaching speeds up to 60 mph, are small whirlwinds that can disrupt the calmest of skies. There were no issues with the skydiving equipment; the free fall and parachute deployment were reported to be normal.

The Aftermath and Immediate Response

Chase died shortly after the accident, while Black remained hospitalized in the days before her death. Chase’s family confirmed her death through a GoFundMe page dedicated to raising money to transport her body back to Maine—a tragic end for someone so young.

The Skydiving Community Reacts

Skydive Perris, the facility where the accident occurred, has been operating for nearly 50 years and conducts over 100,000 skydives annually. The company is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation and has expressed profound condolences to Chase’s family. The skydiving community is reeling from the loss, emphasizing Chase’s passion and contributions to the sport during her short life. Skydive Manager Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld said in a statement that she “lived fully and inspired all of her colleagues.”

Skydiving Safety Measures

As we digest this tragic news, it’s crucial to address the safety measures in place for skydiving activities. Due to high safety standards, fatal incidents in skydiving are rare, with only 0.27 fatalities per 100,000 jumps being reported in 2023, according to the United States Parachute Association (USPA). Skydive Perris maintains rigorous safety protocols, and all their equipment checked out fine in this case. However, nature, with its unpredictable quirks, constantly reminds us that certain risks remain.

In efforts to make skydiving safer, comprehensive training for both instructors and students is paramount. Tandem skydives, like the one involved in this accident, are considered safer mainly because of the instructor’s expertise. Nonetheless, even the most skilled professionals can’t always anticipate sudden natural phenomena like dust devils.

Conclusion

In closing, this incident underscores the unpredictable nature of extreme sports and nature’s relentless force. The loss of Devrey LaRiccia Chase and Kayla Black is a sobering reminder of the risks involved, no matter the experience level.

Sources

  1. ‘Her last jump of the day’: Skydiving teacher, student die after hitting dust devil
  2. How safe is skydiving?
  3. Skydiving instructor dies after hitting dust devil during jump with student, family says

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