Young skydiving instructor dies in freak parachute accident after plummeting 40 feet from sky
Topics: US News
Kya Buller
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@freddychase/@devrey_jane_
Topics: US News
Skydiving instructor Devrey LaRiccia Chase has died in a freak accident during a tornado in Southern California.
On 2 August, Devrey, 28, passed away while the student who joined her on the skydive has been left seriously injured.
It was her last jump of the day when horror struck.
Her husband, Freddy Chase, revealed in a heart-wrenching Instagram post that his wife had encountered 'dust devils' which led to the incident.
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Dust devils are 'dust-filled whirlwinds, which can also contain debris, and form in dry and clear-sky conditions when the ground reaches a high temperature. They resemble a small tornado but are not generally thought to be a threat', the Independent reports.
Freddy wrote in an Instagram Story: "There was no malfunction, there was no plane incident, she was turning her canopy on final to come land safely on the grass, like she has done hundreds of times."
He continued: "With dust devils going over grass, they become invisible because you can't see any dust in the direction they're going...it sent her canopy in an uncontrolled spin to the ground."
Following the horror fall, Devrey and her student were both transported to hospital, where Devrey was pronounced dead.
The identity of her student is yet to be publicly identified.
Freddy told KTLA News: “She was beautiful in the sport and in her passion for skydiving. It was what she talked about every day. She loved doing what she did.”
Devrey's family made a statement which included the following: "On a day that began like many others, full of promise and excitement, Devrey embarked on what was to be another thrilling parachuting experience.
"However, the day took a tragic turn when the plane she was on encountered unforeseen difficulties."
They added: "The shock and sorrow of her untimely death have left her family, friends, and community in deep mourning. Devrey's absence is profoundly felt by all who had the privilege of knowing her."
In an emotional Instagram post honouring his wife, Freddy opened up about what Devrey meant to him.
He wrote: "God just wanted to bring you home, you were an angel amongst us and just was called back to heaven, you were the most amazing person I've ever known, having spent the 5 precious years with you was a gift, you made me a better man, you are the reason why I know true love exists."
A GoFundMe has been established to raise funds to 'help Devrey get home to Maine and to the final resting place that all who knew and loved her know she deserves'. You can donate to it here.