Champion skydiver, 29, dies after trying risky landing manoeuvre
A champion skydiver has died after attempting a high-risk “swooping” landing in Texas, local police have confirmed. Melissa Porter, 29, who was inspired to skydiver after seeing her grandmother partake of the adventure sport, was working as an instructor at the Skydive Spaceland Houston facility in Texas, USA when she suffered a hard landing in shallow water.
Witnesses said her parachute was deployed but she was too close to the ground, though investigators believe Ms Porter may have suffered a medical incident prior to the devastating crash.
READ MORE Daredevil jobseeker lands dream role after jumping out plane to find work[REPORT ]
The incident took place on June 24 but was only confirmed on Sunday by local police as they continue to investigate what happened.
The female skydiver was testing the “swooping” manoeuvre when she had a hard landing and fell into shallow water, ABC 13 Houston reported.
But investigators didn’t notice any blunt force trauma to her body and were unsure if she had suffered a medical emergency during the dive.
In March, Ms Porter and her skydiving partner won gold in the two-way Inter Vertical Formation Skydiving category at the national championships in WA’s Wheatbelt region.
Don’t miss…
‘Flight from hell’ that saw aircraft ‘nosedive’ and people thrown from seats[REVEAL ]
Bride-to-be and dog covered in blood after bull terrier attack before wedding[REPORT ]
‘Foolish’ tourists slammed after standing just feet away from deadly crocodile[LATEST]
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
The woman’s mother Vonnie told Australia’s 9NEWS: “She’s my baby and she’s not coming home.”
She said her daughter loved the sport, adding: “That was her happy place. She’ll forever be in the sky roaming the world now.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the New York Post it was “providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian woman who died in the United States”.
“We send our deepest condolences to the woman’s family,” the department said.
After Ms Porter won the Australian championships in March, she told Sound Telegraph that she wanted to “compete further”.
She said: “It was a shock when we took gold but it’s been amazing – it definitely makes me want to compete further.”
Tributes have since poured in for Ms Porter. Her coach, Kristina Hicks told The West Australian that “skydiving was [Melissa’s] life”.
Swooping involves travelling at high speeds along the ground or over water at the end of a skydive prior to landing.
READ NEXT
Tom Cruise thanks Top Gun fans with daring skydive stunt[REVEAL ]
Top things Brits want to try in their life – including skydiving[INSIGHT ]
Skydive horror: F15 jets in near-miss with parachutists at 13,000 ft[REPORT]
Amanda Holden: Heart DJ slips into slinky catsuit for charity skydive[REVEAL ]
D-Day hero, 94, skydives 10,000ft[REPORT ]
Source: Read Full Article
