A skydiving instructor and student died Aug. 2 after a so-called “dust devil” of turbulent air caught them by surprise, causing a hard and ultimately deadly fall, according to Skydive Perris in Riverside County.
“The skydiving community is small and tight-knit, and this tragic loss has profoundly affected the Skydive Perris community,” company manager Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld said in a press release following the accident.
Chase said they encountered two such dust devils and were able to escape the first, but the second one sent them spiraling down.
According to the press release, witnesses on the ground said the two had a normal free fall and deployment of their parachute. Skydive Perris said there were no signs of issues with their equipment or any aspect of the dive, and that the air disturbance was to blame.
“The interaction with this sudden disturbed air caused turbulence and a hard land for both individuals,” Brodsky-Chenfeld said.
LaRiccia and the student were immediately taken to hospitals but didn’t survive. Skydive Perris management is working with local authorities, and the student’s identity is being withheld pending notification of family members, they said.
LaRiccia was an inspiration to her colleagues and lived life to its fullest, they said.
“She was passionate about introducing others to the sport of skydiving. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of both Devrey and the student,” they said.
New donations have been disabled for the page, which is being organized by family members. In an Aug. 5 update, they said any funds remaining after funeral expenses will be donated to LaRiccia’s favorite charities.
They noted that they were shocked to learn how many people worldwide she had touched through her career as a dive instructor.
“Since creating this, our phones have been buzzing nonstop with support and love for our angel, people from all over asking how they can help our family during this time,” they wrote.
According to their website, Skydive Perris is one of the “most established” and largest skydiving drop zones in the U.S. and facilitates more than 100,000 skydives annually.
LaRiccia was one of 22 instructors there, according to the website.
The company operates at Perris Valley Airport, about 75 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The airport donated $5,000 to help cover the costs of taking LaRiccia home, according to the GoFundMe page.
LaRiccia’s husband Freddy is also an avid skydiver, according to his Instagram page, which has 418,000 followers and features him jumping from planes, bridges, and cliffs.
