One killed in skydiving mishap

ELOY, Ariz. – An attempt to set a world skydiving record by having more than 220 people free-fall from an airplane in formation turned tragic Thursday when a German jumper died during the daring effort at the same Arizona location where two skydivers fell to their deaths last year trying to set a different record.

Police identified the victim as Diana Paris, 46, from Berlin. Her husband told authorities she had completed 1,500 jumps in her skydiving career.

Skydive Arizona blamed the accident on a malfunctioning parachute that was released too low to the ground to allow a reserve parachute to fully open. The skydiver was declared dead at the scene.

“It had nothing to do with the size of the group or the aircraft,” World Team spokeswoman Gulcin Gilbert said.

The accident occurred during an attempt to break a world formation record.

The group of 222 people from 28 countries was to free-fall from about 18,000 feet then come together in a formation like a snowflake and separate and link in another formation before pulling their parachutes.

The skydivers hurtle through the air at speeds of more than 100 mph, and they have about 70 seconds to complete the free-fall formations before they must deploy their parachutes.

The group did not set the record during the ill-fated jump or during several more after the death. They planned to continue today with 221 skydivers.

“Our dear friend cannot and will not be replaced,” said Gilbert, whose group organized the record attempt. “The group will continue to hold the slot open in the skydiver’s honor.”

Skydivers cried and hugged each other and prayed after they learned of the death. But they also had no interest in quitting because of the tragedy.

“You can die crossing the street,” said skydiver Debbie Franzese, of New York. “It’s sad, but also it happens. You know, it just happens.”