A woman, aged 34, died on Sunday afternoon in a Durban parachuting accident, the Parachute Association of SA said.
“The fatality occurred after a freefall skydive from 12,000 feet,” said Mark Bellingan, the parachute association’s national safety and training officer in a statement about the accident at the Durban Skydive Centre which left Hymne Cajeux dead.
“According to initial eyewitness accounts, the parachute was activated too low for a successful deployment and resulted in a high speed impact with the ground.”
Cajeux died from her injuries sustained during the accident. She had done her skydiving training in December 2009 and subsequently completed 18 skydives.
Bellingan said an investigation into the accident would be conducted on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority.