A glamorous skydiver who died along with her instructor in a freak weather event last week has been identified as a restaurant waitress.
Kayla Kieko Black, 28, was pronounced dead Saturday at a Riverside County hospital, just a day after she and her skydiving instructor hit two “dust devils” about 40 feet above the ground.
Dust devils are small tornadoes that form in areas of intense surface warming, such as Arizona, when skies are clear and winds are light, according to the National Weather Service.
They are generally considered harmless.
But when Black and her instructor, Devrey LaRiccia Chase, 28, hit the two dust devils on Aug. 2 while preparing to land, they began experiencing turbulence, said Dan Brodskey-Chenfeld, manager of Skydive Perris. said in a statement to Fox 11.
Kayla Kieko Black, 28, was pronounced dead Saturday at a Riverside County hospital
Chase, who was making her last dive of the day as an instructor at Skydive Perris, spotted the first dust devil at about 40 feet and was able to safely glide herself and her student away from it, but was grabbed in a second, sending the pair spiraling toward the ground, her husband Freddy Chase wrote in a Instagram story.
When they were about 25 feet above the ground, they hit the second dust devil, which didn’t give them time to react and they fell to the ground, Freddy said. KTLA.
Chase was found unconscious but still breathing and was taken to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Black was pronounced dead a day later.
Black and her skydiving instructor hit two “dust devils” about 40 feet above the ground and made a hard landing
Her instructor, Devrey LaRiccia Chase, 28, was found unconscious but still breathing and was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Family members said Black, a resident of Buena Park, California, had worked as a waiter at the Japanese restaurant Niko Niko in La Habra for nearly nine years and had recently started working at a Benihana in Anaheim.
“She had a lot of regular customers who loved her and she touched lives in Benihana because she had an infectious personality,” said Kayla’s father, Bill Black. told KTLA.
He said her lifelong dream revolved around a camper she bought with the hopes of being able to fix it up and work remotely while “living wherever she wanted.”
“I know it’s not glamorous, but this was her dream,” her father said.
“She loved getting out and about and trying different activities, like skydiving… this tragic accident was her second.”
Chase spotted the first dust devil about 40 feet away and was able to safely slide herself and her student away from it, but was grabbed in a second, sending the pair spiraling toward the ground.
Freddy said Chase was about 25 feet above the ground when she and her dive student hit the second dust devil, giving them no time to react.
An online fundraiser to raise money for her funeral expenses was also described Black as ‘a vibrant and loving 28-year-old woman whose soul touched everyone she met.
‘Her infectious smile and boundless enthusiasm for life brought joy to her family, friends and all who knew her.
“Kayla was cherished by her family and friends, who will forever remember her kindness, warmth and unwavering support,” the fundraiser said.
It is also mentioned that Kayla was an organ donor, unbeknownst to her family.
‘In this time of immense grief, we take comfort in knowing that Kayla’s legacy will live on because of her selfless decision to become an organ donor.
“Her generosity will provide hope and a new beginning to many people and families in need,” the statement said.
An online fundraiser has been set up to help bring Chase’s body home for burial in Maine, where she is originally from
Chase’s family has described her as “a fun-loving and adventurous spirit who lived her life to the fullest, always seeking new experiences and embracing each day with enthusiasm and joy”
Another fundraising has been set up to bring Chase’s body home and bury it in Maine, where she is originally from.
Eight years ago she moved from Maine to California.
Her family described her as “a joyful and adventurous soul who lived life to the fullest, always seeking new experiences and embracing each day with enthusiasm and joy.”
‘Her passion for adventure led her to the exciting world of skydiving. She found immense joy in the freedom of the air, and cherished every moment she soared above the earth.
‘Unfortunately, it was precisely this passion that led to the accident that cost her her life.’
Chase received a lot of support from the community.
“Dev was truly something special. One of the kindest, warmest, most welcoming people I have ever met and I am so glad I got to know her,” said one friend online.
‘Devrey was such a character, always had a good attitude towards everything and everyone. She will be greatly missed by us all,’ added another.
“She was and remains an inspiration to me, the most perfect angel,” wrote a third.