A glamorous skydiving instructor has died after hitting a “dust devil” and spiralling to her death in a freak accident that also left her student injured.
Devrey LaRiccia Chase, 28, of California, was skydiving with a student on Aug. 2 when she encountered the freak weather phenomenon about 40 feet above the ground and it sent her spinning “out of control,” her husband Freddy Chase said in a statement. Instagram Story.
“There was no malfunction, there was no aerial incident, she was just turning her parachute into the final position to land safely on the grass, as she has done hundreds of times,” he wrote on the platform.
Freddy said Chase, who was on her last dive of the day as an instructor at Skydive Perris, noticed the first dust devil at about 40 feet and was able to safely move away from it with her student, but got caught in a second one that caused the pair to begin spiraling toward the ground.
The pair were about 25 feet off the ground when they hit the second dust devil, leaving them no time to react and crashing to the ground, Freddy said. KTLA.
Devrey LaRiccia Chase, 28, of California, was skydiving with a student on Aug. 2 when she encountered a dust devil about 40 feet above the ground that sent her spinning “out of control,” her husband Freddy Chase said.
Freddy said Chase was about 25 feet off the ground when she and her diving student hit the second dust devil, leaving them no time to react.
Dust devils are small tornadoes that form in areas of strong surface heating, such as Arizona, when there are clear skies and light winds, according to National Metereological Service.
“Dust devils pass over the grass and become invisible because you can’t see any dust in the direction they are going… this caused their canopy to spin uncontrollably toward the ground,” Freddy wrote.
Chase was found unconscious but still breathing and was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead. Despite the horrific accident, Freddy insisted that his wife “wasn’t in pain” when she died.
“I loved that perfect girl,” Freddy wrote on Monday.
“She was beautiful in the sport and in her passion for skydiving,” he told KTLA. “It was what she talked about every day. She loved doing what she did.”
Chase was found unconscious but breathing and taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Freddy insisted that his wife was “not in pain.”
“I loved that perfect girl,” Freddy wrote on Monday. “She was beautiful in sport and in her passion for skydiving.”
His student, who was not identified, was seriously injured, according to People.
Chase’s family shared: ‘On a day that started out like many others, full of promise and excitement, Devrey embarked on what would be another thrilling skydiving experience.
‘However, the day took a tragic turn when the plane he was travelling on ran into unforeseen difficulties.
‘Despite the best efforts of the pilots and crew, the plane crashed, resulting in a catastrophic accident.
‘Devrey and others on board did not survive. The shock and grief of her untimely death has left her family, friends and community in deep mourning. Devrey’s absence is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing her.’
Dust devils are small tornadoes that form in areas of strong surface heating, such as Arizona, when there are clear skies and light winds.
Chase’s husband, Freddy, insisted that skydiving “was what she talked about every day. She loved doing what she did.”
The LaRiccia family added: ‘Devrey had a bright and adventurous spirit who lived his life to the fullest, always seeking out new experiences and embracing each day with enthusiasm and joy.’
‘Her passion for adventure led her into the exciting world of skydiving. She found immense joy in the freedom of the skies and cherished every moment she spent flying above the earth.
“Unfortunately, it was this same passion that caused the accident that cost him his life.”
Chase received an outpouring of support from the community.
“Dev was truly something special. One of the sweetest, warmest, most welcoming people I have ever met and I am so happy to have met her,” said one online friend.
“Devrey was quite a character, she always had a good attitude towards everything and everyone. We will all miss her very much,” added another.
“The most perfect angel, she was and will forever be an inspiration to me,” wrote a third.
His family started a GoFundMe for Chase to bring her body home for burial in Maine, where she is originally from.
As of Tuesday morning, the fundraiser has raised more than $56,000 of its $75,000 goal.
Chase moved from Maine to California eight years ago.