Australian skydiver falls to her death while testing new method of jumping in US: ‘Skydiving was her life’
- Australian skydiver dies in US
- Melissa Porter tested a new jump
- The tragedy triggered a flood of tributes
An Australian champion skydiver has died while testing a new method of jumping in the US, just weeks after helping set a national record.
Melissa Porter, from Port Kennedy, Western Australia, died June 24 at the Skydive Spaceland Houston facility in Texas, where she worked as an instructor.
Horrified onlookers reportedly saw the parachute open after Ms Porter jumped from the plane but then landed hard.
Investigators are yet to determine whether the young Australian suffered a medical emergency during the dive or was killed by the impact.
Ms Porter’s death was confirmed by local police on Sunday after her body was identified, sparking a spate of tributes.
Australia’s skydiving community has been rocked by the shocking death of Melissa Porter
Ms Porter had spent at least a month in Texas preparing for the jump and recently shared footage of herself practicing iFLY El Paso.
“Finally I sent a head down the tunnel,” she captioned the video.
Fellow skydivers have taken to social media to express their grief and pay tribute.
“We have lost such a wonderful person. Rest peacefully Mel,” someone wrote.
Others remembered Ms. Porter as “exuberant” and an inspiration to other young women divers
“Skydiving was her life,” trainer Kristina Hicks told The West Australian.
“She loved[living in Texas]and being part of the diving community there where there were opportunities to advance and work with some of the best divers in the world.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Ms Porter’s desperate family.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the woman’s family,” added a DFAT spokesman.
Porter helped set a skydiving record in Queensland in May.
She was among 19 women to jump at the Skydive Ramblers in Toogoolawah and complete a ‘2-point 23-way’, a consecutive Australian overall record for women.
An online fundraiser in support of Ms. Porter has already raised more than $13,000.
“Please help support Mel Porter’s family during this challenging time.” “We hope the financial strain of last minute international travel and funeral expenses can be the least of their concerns as they begin to recover from this devastating loss ‘ it says on the page.