Female skydiving champion dies attempting dangerous jump.

Australian Skydiver Dies After Attempting Risky Maneuver in Texas

Melissa Porter, a 29-year-old champion female Australian skydiver, tragically lost her life while attempting a new method of jumping at the Skydive Spaceland Houston facility in Texas. Porter had recently won a gold medal at the Australian Skydiving Championships alongside her partner Josh Tassicker.

Champion Australian skydiver Melissa Porter dies in Texas, US https://t.co/GHOpai0XIs pic.twitter.com/rJodI4gH3g

— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) July 3, 2023

Porter’s mother, Vinnie, expressed her grief, saying, “She’s my baby and she’s not coming home. That was her happy place. She’ll forever be in the sky roaming the world now.”

Coach Kristina Hicks shared, “Skydiving was her life. She was loving (living in Texas) and being part of the diving community over there where there were opportunities to progress and work with some of the best divers in the world.”

The Risky Maneuver: Swooping

In the ill-fated jump, Porter attempted a maneuver known as “swooping.” This technique involves increasing the speed of the parachute, causing the jumper to fly rapidly over the ground or water. SkyDive Monroe explains that swoopers create a surge that drives the canopy towards the ground, allowing them to stylishly glide across the surface.

Porter’s passion for skydiving began when she witnessed her grandmother’s skydiving adventure. She took her first tandem skydive on her 14th birthday.

After winning the gold medal, Porter expressed her surprise and excitement, stating, “We definitely didn’t expect to win. It was a shock when we took gold, but it’s been amazing — it definitely makes me want to compete further.”

Breaking Stereotypes and Inspiring Others

Porter was determined to break the male-dominated perception of skydiving. In an interview with the Sound Telegraph, she said, “There’s this idea that women are too afraid or they’re too small, or they’re too light, all of these things, and it’s absolutely not true. They are 100 percent capable. It’s really cool for me to be able to be an instructor and to show other women it’s doable. I want to continue doing that for years.”

Despite her dedication to the sport, Porter admitted, “Because I’ve been a full-time skydiver in the industry for so long, I don’t get a lot of time to ‘fun jump.'”

Porter’s Last Achievement

On May 6, Porter successfully completed the “2-point 23 way,” a challenging formation where skydivers connect in the air, release into a “full break,” and then reconnect. She expressed her excitement and pride in being part of such a unique event.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) extended their deepest condolences to Porter’s family.

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