A glamorous skydiver who died alongside her instructor in a freak weather event last week has been identified as a restaurant waitress.
Kayla Kieko Black, 28, was pronounced dead at a Riverside County hospital on Saturday, just a day after she and her skydiving instructor crashed into two “dust devils” about 40 feet above the ground.
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.
They are generally considered harmless.
But when Black and his instructor, Devrey LaRiccia Chase, 28, hit the twin dust devils as they prepared to land Aug. 2, they began experiencing turbulence, said Skydive Perris manager Dan Brodskey-Chenfeld. he said in a statement to Fox 11.
Kayla Kieko Black, 28, was pronounced dead at a Riverside County hospital on Saturday.
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 herself and her student away from it, but was caught in a second that caused the pair to begin spiraling to the ground, her husband Freddy Chase wrote in a Instagram Story.
When they got about 25 feet off the ground, they hit the second dust devil, which gave them no time to react and they crashed to the ground, Freddy said. KTLA.
Chase was found unconscious but still breathing and was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Black was pronounced dead a day later.
Black and his skydiving instructor hit two “dust devils” about 40 feet above the ground and experienced a rough landing.
Her instructor, Devrey LaRiccia Chase, 28, was found unconscious but still breathing and was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Relatives said Black, a Buena Park, California, resident, worked as a waiter at Niko Niko Japanese restaurant in La Habra for nearly nine years and had recently started working at a Benihana in Anaheim.
“She had many regular customers who loved her and she was already touching lives at Benihana as she had an infectious personality,” said Kayla’s father, Bill Black. he told KTLA.
He said his life’s dreams revolved around a mobile home he had purchased with hopes of renovating it and working remotely while living “wherever he wanted to go.”
“I know it’s not glamorous, but that was his dream,” his father said.
‘He loved to go on adventures and try different activities, like skydiving… this tragic accident was his second.’
Chase noticed the first dust devil about 40 feet away and was able to safely move away from it with his student, but was caught in a second one that caused the pair to begin spiraling toward the ground.
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.
An online fundraiser was also described to raise money for his funeral expenses. Black as ‘a vibrant and loving 28-year-old woman whose spirit touched everyone she met.
‘Her infectious smile and boundless enthusiasm for life brought joy to her family, friends and all who knew her.
“Kayla was much loved by her family and friends, who will forever remember her kindness, warmth and unwavering support,” the fundraiser said.
It is also mentioned that Kayla was an organ donor, unbeknownst to her family.
‘In this time of immense grief, we find comfort in knowing that Kayla’s legacy will live on through her selfless decision to be an organ donor.
“Your generosity will bring hope and new beginnings to many individuals and families in need,” he said.
An online fundraiser has been set up to bring Chase’s body home for burial in Maine, where she is originally from.
Chase’s family has described her as “a bright and adventurous spirit who lived her life to the fullest, always seeking out new experiences and embracing each day with enthusiasm and joy.”
Other A fundraiser has been created to bring Chase’s body home for burial in Maine, where she is originally from.
She moved from Maine to California eight years ago.
Her family has described her as “a bright and adventurous spirit who lived her 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.