The tragic events that unfolded above the skies of the Inland Empire on August 2nd have left the skydiving community and many others grieving, following the loss of two young lives during a routine jump at Skydive Perris, as reported by KTLA and FOX LA. Kayla Kieko Black, a 28-year-old woman from Buena Park, California, and her skydiving instructor, Devrey LaRiccia Chase, also 28, were both killed after being caught in a pair of "dust devils"—small, rotating columns of air that normally pose little danger, however in this instance became deadly.
The incident occurred as the pair attempted to land after a normal free fall and parachute deployment; they encountered the first dust devil and managed to navigate away from it but were caught by a second, sending them into an uncontrollable spin and leading to a hard landing, both were rushed to a local hospital where they were later pronounced dead and Freddy Chase, widow to the instructor and himself an experienced skydiver, recounted the haunting details, stating the dust devils were invisible as they soared over grassy terrain. According to KTLA, Bill Black, Kayla's father, remembered her as someone with an "infectious personality" who was working on fulfilling her dream of renovating an RV and traveling while working remotely.
Devrey LaRiccia Chase's impact within and beyond the skydiving community was noted by her family's GoFundMe page, stating that their phones had been "buzzing non-stop with support and love for our angel," per FOX LA. Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, manager of Skydive Perris, remembered LaRiccia as "a beloved member of our skydiving community," and acknowledged that the loss deeply affected the Skydive Perris community—this sentiment highlights just how tightly knit these circles are, given the inherently risky yet passionately pursued sport of skydiving.
Revelations followed Kayla's passing that she had signed up to be an organ donor, a fact unknown to her family, her choice to bequeath hope and new beginnings to others in need offers a flicker of solace amidst the storm of sorrow, a GoFundMe campaign has also been initiated to aid the family with funeral costs. Devrey's family aims to bring her home to Maine for burial, emphasizing the national and international span of her legacy within the skydiving community, despite the nature of their occupation, which flirts often with danger, the unexpected loss weighs heavy, serving as a stark reminder of the unpredictable whims of nature.
