Glamorous skydiver, 28, died after freak weather event ruined her parachute and sent her crashing into ground

A glamorous skydiving instructor died after hitting a 'dust devil' and spiraling to her death in a freak accident that also left her student injured. 

Devrey LaRiccia Chase, 28, of California, was skydiving with a student on August 2 when she hit the freak weather event around 40 feet above ground and it sent her into an 'uncontrolled spin,' her husband Freddy Chase said in an Instagram Story. 

'There was no malfunction, there was no plane incident, she was turning her canopy on final to come land safely on the grass, like she has done hundreds of times,' he wrote on the platform. 

Freddy said Chase, who was on her last dive of the day as an instructor at Skydive Perris, noticed the first dust devil around 40 feet and was able to safely glide her and her student away from it, but got caught in a second that caused the pair to start spiraling to the ground. 

The pair were around 25 feet off the ground when they hit the second dust devil leaving them no time to react and slammed into the ground, Freddy told KTLA.

Devrey LaRiccia Chase, 28, of California , was skydiving with a student on August 2 when she encountered a dust devil around 40 feet above ground that sent her into an 'uncontrolled spin,' her husband Freddy Chase said

Freddy said Chase was around 25 feet off the ground when her and her diving student hit the second dust devil leaving them no time to react

Read More

Skydiving videographer in his 40s died in horror parachute 'incident' when he 'landed on factory roof'

Dust devils are small tornadoes that form in areas of strong surface heating, like Arizona, when there are clear skies and light winds, according to the National Weather Service. 

'With dust devils going over grass, they become invisible because you can't see any dust in the direction they're going...it sent her canopy in an uncontrolled spin to the ground,' Freddy wrote. 

Chase was found unconscious but still breathing and was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead. Despite the horrific accident, Freddy insisted his wife was 'not in pain' when she died. 

'I loved that perfect girl,' Freddy wrote on Monday.

'She was beautiful in the sport and in her passion for skydiving,' he told KTLA. 'It was what she talked about every day. She loved doing what she did.' 

Chase was found unconscious, but breathing and taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Freddy insisted his wife was 'not in pain'

'I loved that perfect girl,' Freddy wrote on Monday. 'She was beautiful in the sport and in her passion for skydiving' 

Her student, who was not identified, was seriously injured, according to People. 

Chase's family shared: 'On a day that began like many others, full of promise and excitement, Devrey embarked on what was to be another thrilling parachuting experience.

'However, the day took a tragic turn when the plane she was on encountered unforeseen difficulties.

'Despite the best efforts of the pilots and crew, the plane went down, resulting in a catastrophic accident.

'Devrey, along with others on board, did not survive. The shock and sorrow of her untimely death have left her family, friends, and community in deep mourning. Devrey's absence is profoundly felt by all who had the privilege of knowing her.'

Dust devils are small tornadoes that form in areas of strong surface heating, like Arizona, when there are clear skies and light winds

Chase's husband Freddy insisted  that skydiving 'was what she talked about every day. She loved doing what she did'

The LaRiccia family added, 'Devrey was a bright and adventurous spirit who lived her life to the fullest, always seeking new experiences and embracing each day with enthusiasm and joy.'

'Her passion for adventure led her to the exhilarating world of parachuting. She found immense joy in the freedom of the skies, cherishing each moment she spent soaring above the earth.

'Unfortunately, it was this very passion that led to the accident that claimed her life.'

Chase received an outpouring of support from the community.

'Dev was truly something special. One of the sweetest, warmest, and most welcoming people I've ever met and I'm so glad I got to know her,' a friend said online.

'Devrey was such a character, always had a good attitude towards everything and everyone. She will be greatly missed by all of us,' another added.

'The most perfect angel, she was and will forever be an inspiration to me,' a third wrote.

Her family started a GoFundMe for Chase to bring her body home to be buried in Maine, where she's originally from. 

The fundraiser has garnered more than $56,000 toward its $75,000 goal as of Tuesday morning. 

Chase moved from Maine to California eight years ago.