A trained skydiver jumped from a height of 10,000 feet in Shotton Colliery, Durham, one day after breaking up with her boyfriend.32-year-old Jade Damarell was a parachutist with 400 jumps. As per reports, she refused to open her parachute during the fall.Damarell died instantly after hitting the ground, however, police quickly ruled out any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.According to a report by Daily Mail, Damarell, a resident of South Wales, broke up with her 26-year-old boyfriend Ben Goodfellow, who was also a skydiver.The two were dating for over six months and lived at a property rented to parachutists near the airfield for several months."The two of them were inseparable. They spent all their time together; they didn't really engage with anyone else. They did skydiving together all the time. They had been living in the lodgings since Christmas and had been together a couple of more months before that," a friend told the Daily Mail."The night before Jade died, Ben called off the relationship. He went to work the next day, and that's when Jade fell to her death," the friend added.Goodfellow worked as a technician at car manufacturer Nissan and also performed as the lead singer and guitarist in a band.Earlier on April 27, the initial reports showed that Damarell's death was a tragic incident. Later, SkyHigh Skydiving later issued a statement saying her death was suspected to have been a “deliberate act".“It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place on 28 April, 2025, involving a valued member of our community. All indications from the police and British Skydiving are that this was a deliberate act. This heartbreaking news has deeply affected all who knew her, and our thoughts are with her family and friends as they face this unimaginable loss," a spokesperson said.This week, a legal investigation into Damarell’s death opened, revealing that there was “no indication of equipment failure."&nbsp;

32-year-old Jade Damarell was a parachutist with 400 jumps. As per reports, she refused to open her parachute during the fall.

A trained skydiver jumped from a height of 10,000 feet in Shotton Colliery, Durham, one day after breaking up with her boyfriend. 32-year-old Jade Damarell was a parachutist with 400 jumps. As per reports, she refused to open her parachute during the fall. Damarell died instantly after hitting the ground, however, police quickly ruled out any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. According to a report by Daily Mail, Damarell, a resident of South Wales, broke up with her 26-year-old boyfriend Ben Goodfellow, who was also a skydiver. The two were dating for over six months and lived at a property rented to parachutists near the airfield for several months. "The two of them were inseparable. They spent all their time together; they didn't really engage with anyone else. They did skydiving together all the time. They had been living in the lodgings since Christmas and had been together a couple of more months before that," a friend told the Daily Mail. "The night before Jade died, Ben called off the relationship. He went to work the next day, and that's when Jade fell to her death," the friend added. Goodfellow worked as a technician at car manufacturer Nissan and also performed as the lead singer and guitarist in a band. Earlier on April 27, the initial reports showed that Damarell's death was a tragic incident. Later, SkyHigh Skydiving later issued a statement saying her death was suspected to have been a “deliberate act". “It is with great sadness that we confirm a tragic incident took place on 28 April, 2025, involving a valued member of our community. All indications from the police and British Skydiving are that this was a deliberate act. This heartbreaking news has deeply affected all who knew her, and our thoughts are with her family and friends as they face this unimaginable loss," a spokesperson said. This week, a legal investigation into Damarell’s death opened, revealing that there was “no indication of equipment failure."

32-year-old Jade Damarell was a parachutist with 400 jumps. As per reports, she refused to open her parachute during the fall.

Breakup led to tragic death: UK skydiver refused to open parachute while falling from 10,000 feet - Here's why

Britain's&nbsp;102-year-old daredevil woman - Manette Baillie - marked her birthday by jumping from the plane at 7,000 feet above Beccles Airfield in East Anglia.

The oldest skydiver in the country took the daunting task of raising funds for three charities - the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Motor Neurone Disease Association and Benhall Village Hall.

Baillie had an adventurous life. She was appointed to the Woman’s Royal Naval Service (WRENS) in&nbsp;Egypt&nbsp;during the&nbsp;Second World War&nbsp;and had married a paratrooper.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/worlds-oldest-person-us-born-spanish-maria-branyas-dies-at-117-751724">World’s oldest person US-born Spanish Maria Branyas dies at 117</a>

Bailee, who has still been driving regularly, marked her 100th birthday by driving a Ferrari racing car at the speed of 130 mph at Silverstone race course.

While speaking to Radio 4, Manette Baillie said, "I really don't do fear it's no good. It's 130 miles per hour to begin with before they pull the rip cords for the parachute and then it's gently floating down."

"I play an active part in the community and people often ask me what is the secret of old age. Of course, it is luck but I would say keep both physically and mentally active and socialise!" Baillie had earlier said.

<h2>Britain's&nbsp;oldest skydiver receives wishes from across the world</h2>

Baillie received birthday wishes from many people, including the Prince of Wales who wrote a personal letter to her and gave tips from avid parachutists.&nbsp;

According to her, the secret of her long and fulfilling life is spending time with "community, friends and being among people."

Watch:&nbsp;World's oldest woman dies at 117 in Spain

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"Keep busy, be interested in everything, be kind to those around you and let them be kind to you. And don’t forget to party," she said.

Reacting to Baillie's skydiving, the East Anglian Air Ambulance in a statement said, "We love hearing about the inspirational stories from EAAA supporters, so we were completely overwhelmed when we heard about Manette’s kindness and her exciting plans to celebrate her 102nd birthday."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Britain's 102-year-old daredevil woman - Manette Baillie - marked her birthday by jumping from the plane at 7,000 feet above Beccles Airfield in East Anglia. The oldest skydiver in the country took the daunting task of raising funds for three charities - the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Motor Neurone Disease Association and Benhall Village Hall.

Britain's 102-year-old daredevil woman - Manette Baillie - marked her birthday by jumping from the plane at 7,000 feet above Beccles Airfield in East Anglia. The oldest skydiver in the country took the daunting task of raising funds for three charities - the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Motor Neurone Disease Association and Benhall Village Hall. Baillie had an adventurous life. She was appointed to the Woman’s Royal Naval Service (WRENS) in Egypt during the Second World War and had married a paratrooper. Also Read: World’s oldest person US-born Spanish Maria Branyas dies at 117 Bailee, who has still been driving regularly, marked her 100th birthday by driving a Ferrari racing car at the speed of 130 mph at Silverstone race course. While speaking to Radio 4, Manette Baillie said, "I really don't do fear it's no good. It's 130 miles per hour to begin with before they pull the rip cords for the parachute and then it's gently floating down." "I play an active part in the community and people often ask me what is the secret of old age. Of course, it is luck but I would say keep both physically and mentally active and socialise!" Baillie had earlier said. Britain's oldest skydiver receives wishes from across the world Baillie received birthday wishes from many people, including the Prince of Wales who wrote a personal letter to her and gave tips from avid parachutists. According to her, the secret of her long and fulfilling life is spending time with "community, friends and being among people." Watch: World's oldest woman dies at 117 in Spain "Keep busy, be interested in everything, be kind to those around you and let them be kind to you. And don’t forget to party," she said. Reacting to Baillie's skydiving, the East Anglian Air Ambulance in a statement said, "We love hearing about the inspirational stories from EAAA supporters, so we were completely overwhelmed when we heard about Manette’s kindness and her exciting plans to celebrate her 102nd birthday." (With inputs from agencies)

Britain's 102-year-old woman makes birthday jump from plane, becomes country's oldest skydiver

A man from the US state of Texas has proved that “age is just a number” after he reclaimed his title as the world’s oldest person to tandem skydive. Born on January 4, 1917, Alfred “Al” Blaschke, first broke the record in 2020 at the age of 103.&nbsp;

<h2>About the record</h2>

According to the Guinness World Records, Blaschke was 106 years and 327 days old at the time of the jump, which is more than three years older than the previous record holder.&nbsp;

Notably, he first broke the record when he was 103 years old and jumped out of a moving plane at 14,000 feet to celebrate his twin grandsons’ college graduations.&nbsp;

However, in 2022, a Swedish woman named Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson who was aged 103 years and 259 days broke Blaschke’s record. He had vowed to reclaim the title and did just that back in November, last year.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesias-mt-ibu-erupts-spewing-ash-clouds-720838">Mount Ibu erupts once more, spewing 5 km high ash tower in Indonesia</a>

Due to bad weather and scheduling issues, the jump had been postponed four times, but eventually, he was able to do it after diving in the air at an altitude of 9,000 feet alongside Texas Governor Greg Abbott.&nbsp;

Notably, Abbott had met Blaschke when he first broke the record in 2020 and had promised to take part in his next attempt.

The dive took place from an altitude of 9,000 feet over Fentress, Texas after the 106-year-old attached himself to a skydiving instructor and jumped out of the plane. The duo safely landed after deploying the parachute at 5,500 feet.&nbsp;

“If you think you can’t, you’re just underestimating yourself,” Blaschke said to those gathered including his children, grandchildren, and the press. He added, “Everyone is more capable than they think. They just need to make the decision to try.”

<h2>Why is the record making headlines now?</h2>

The record made by Blaschke, who turned 107 in January, is making headlines once again because of a separate record attempt last year.&nbsp;

In October, 104-year-old Dorothy Hoffner from the city of Chicago was on the cusp of making history after she sought to break the record.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/will-earth-turn-as-arid-as-sahara-desert-heres-what-disappearance-of-grasslands-hint-720991">Will Earth turn as arid as Sahara Desert? Here's what disappearance of grasslands hint</a>

Hoffner would have been the world’s oldest skydiver as well as the oldest-ever woman to perform such a feat.&nbsp;

On October 1, Hoffner jumped off a plane from 13,500 feet at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois. However, around a week later as she was waiting for her official certification, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/104-year-old-woman-dies-days-before-entering-into-guinness-world-records-for-daring-skydive-645467">Hoffner died in her sleep</a>.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A man from the US state of Texas has proved that “age is just a number” after he reclaimed his title as the world’s oldest person to tandem skydive. Born on January 4, 1917, Alfred “Al” Blaschke, first broke the record in 2020 at the age of 103.

A man from the US state of Texas has proved that “age is just a number” after he reclaimed his title as the world’s oldest person to tandem skydive. Born on January 4, 1917, Alfred “Al” Blaschke, first broke the record in 2020 at the age of 103. About the record According to the Guinness World Records, Blaschke was 106 years and 327 days old at the time of the jump, which is more than three years older than the previous record holder. Notably, he first broke the record when he was 103 years old and jumped out of a moving plane at 14,000 feet to celebrate his twin grandsons’ college graduations. However, in 2022, a Swedish woman named Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson who was aged 103 years and 259 days broke Blaschke’s record. He had vowed to reclaim the title and did just that back in November, last year. Also Read | Mount Ibu erupts once more, spewing 5 km high ash tower in Indonesia Due to bad weather and scheduling issues, the jump had been postponed four times, but eventually, he was able to do it after diving in the air at an altitude of 9,000 feet alongside Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Notably, Abbott had met Blaschke when he first broke the record in 2020 and had promised to take part in his next attempt. The dive took place from an altitude of 9,000 feet over Fentress, Texas after the 106-year-old attached himself to a skydiving instructor and jumped out of the plane. The duo safely landed after deploying the parachute at 5,500 feet. “If you think you can’t, you’re just underestimating yourself,” Blaschke said to those gathered including his children, grandchildren, and the press. He added, “Everyone is more capable than they think. They just need to make the decision to try.” Why is the record making headlines now? The record made by Blaschke, who turned 107 in January, is making headlines once again because of a separate record attempt last year. In October, 104-year-old Dorothy Hoffner from the city of Chicago was on the cusp of making history after she sought to break the record. Also Read | Will Earth turn as arid as Sahara Desert? Here's what disappearance of grasslands hint Hoffner would have been the world’s oldest skydiver as well as the oldest-ever woman to perform such a feat. On October 1, Hoffner jumped off a plane from 13,500 feet at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois. However, around a week later as she was waiting for her official certification, Hoffner died in her sleep. (With inputs from agencies)

106-year-old man from Texas reclaims title of world’s oldest skydiver

A British skydiver fell to his death from a Pattaya condominium on Saturday (Jan 27) after his parachute failed to deploy. The 33-year-old skydiver Nathy Odinson sneaked to the top of the 29-floor building and jumped off, while his friend waited to shoot the landing on the ground. However, as per media reports, Odinson’s parachute didn’t open fully, causing him to crash into some trees before falling to his death on the road.&nbsp; 
 
Tourist police in Tambon Na Klua in Bang Lamung district of Chonburi province were called in, who were told by the security officials of the condominium that they heard a loud noise of a heavy object hitting the ground and later heard a woman crying.

According to the security officials, Odinson had parked his car outside the building before sneaking into the building. Police said they were investigating the case and analysing CCTV footage from the building. Odinson’s friend was also interrogated by the police.

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Nathy Odinson, a British passport holder, owned a Facebook page ‘Nathy’s Sky Photography,’ which has over 5,000 likes and 10,000 followers. He would post several videos of him skydiving and base jumping from several locations in Thailand.

His posts also tagged a Facebook page called, Thai Sky Adventurers that sells packages for tourists who like skydiving from a small plane. The tourism company is located in Chonburi’s Si Racha district. 
 
Several friends and fans of Odinson have expressed shock and sorrow on social media.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw2VSwwpNpedHJcOWi1och0h" data-ved="2ahUKEwiNkdKf6v-DAxUiS2wGHenyAZsQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/viral-video-lion-in-bentley-thai-woman-arrested-after-her-pet-cub-seen-on-pattaya-streets-683601" jsname="YKoRaf">VIRAL VIDEO | Lion in Bentley: Thai woman arrested after her pet cub seen on Pattaya streets</a>

A similar incident occurred in the UK in July last year when a 32-year-old Royal Air Force (RAF) instructor accidentally filmed her own death as her parachute failed in a 12,000 foot free-fall jump in Oxfordshire.

The RAF is UK’s air and space force. Sergeant Rachel Fisk was reportedly filming herself and other parachutists who jumped together as part of a training exercise.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A British skydiver fell to his death from a Pattaya condominium on Saturday (Jan 27) after his parachute failed to deploy. The 33-year-old skydiver Nathy Odinson sneaked to the top of the 29-floor building and jumped off, while his friend waited to shoot the landing on the ground.

A British skydiver fell to his death from a Pattaya condominium on Saturday (Jan 27) after his parachute failed to deploy. The 33-year-old skydiver Nathy Odinson sneaked to the top of the 29-floor building and jumped off, while his friend waited to shoot the landing on the ground. However, as per media reports, Odinson’s parachute didn’t open fully, causing him to crash into some trees before falling to his death on the road. Tourist police in Tambon Na Klua in Bang Lamung district of Chonburi province were called in, who were told by the security officials of the condominium that they heard a loud noise of a heavy object hitting the ground and later heard a woman crying. According to the security officials, Odinson had parked his car outside the building before sneaking into the building. Police said they were investigating the case and analysing CCTV footage from the building. Odinson’s friend was also interrogated by the police. Also read: Thailand: Indian gambling kingpin Chikoti Praveen in net after bust in Pattaya Nathy Odinson, a British passport holder, owned a Facebook page ‘Nathy’s Sky Photography,’ which has over 5,000 likes and 10,000 followers. He would post several videos of him skydiving and base jumping from several locations in Thailand. His posts also tagged a Facebook page called, Thai Sky Adventurers that sells packages for tourists who like skydiving from a small plane. The tourism company is located in Chonburi’s Si Racha district. Several friends and fans of Odinson have expressed shock and sorrow on social media. Also read: VIRAL VIDEO | Lion in Bentley: Thai woman arrested after her pet cub seen on Pattaya streets A similar incident occurred in the UK in July last year when a 32-year-old Royal Air Force (RAF) instructor accidentally filmed her own death as her parachute failed in a 12,000 foot free-fall jump in Oxfordshire. The RAF is UK’s air and space force. Sergeant Rachel Fisk was reportedly filming herself and other parachutists who jumped together as part of a training exercise. (With inputs from agencies)

Thailand: British skydiver falls to death in Pattaya as parachute fails to deploy

A private astronaut who was part of the first private mission to International Space Station (ISS) in April last year, is preparing to etch his name into another first. On Thursday (September 28), Larry Connor will attempt highest HALO (High Altitude, Low Open) skydive in the skies of New Mexico in USA.

The 73-year-old businessman will not be jumping alone. Accompanying him will be members of his 'Alpha 5' team which consists of current and former US Air Force Special Warfare Pararescue Specialists.

"To break the existing world record for the highest HALO formation skydive, the team will ascend to an altitude of 35,000 feet [10,700 metres] using a specially designed balloon," says the project's website.

"From there, they will link arms and form a five-person formation before safely separating and landing," it says. "A representative from Guinness World Records will be present to assess and validate the record-setting achievement."

The balloon that'll take the team to the high altitude is the largest balloon ever manufactured in the US.

However, the skydive is highly dependent on weather and the team has said that date and time may shift in case of adverse conditions. The jump window is through October 15.

The skydive is an effort to raise funds for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The aim is to raise USD 1 million.

"The Special Operations Warrior Foundation's enduring promise to America's Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations personnel is to honor the fallen, and all Medal of Honor recipients, by providing full educations and additional opportunities, 'cradle to career' (preschool-college), to their children," reads the website of Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

HALO skydives, as the full form suggests, are characterised by a jump from very high altitude and opening of the parachute just few hundred feet from the ground.

For comparison, recreational skydiving involves jumping from about 15000 feet and opening of parachute when the skydiver is at 3000 feet. In HALO skydiving, the actual jump takes place at twice the altitude and the skydiver opens his or her parachute when merely 800 feet above the ground.

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A private astronaut who was part of the first private mission to International Space Station (ISS) in April last year, is preparing to etch his name into another first.

A private astronaut who was part of the first private mission to International Space Station (ISS) in April last year, is preparing to etch his name into another first. On Thursday (September 28), Larry Connor will attempt highest HALO (High Altitude, Low Open) skydive in the skies of New Mexico in USA. The 73-year-old businessman will not be jumping alone. Accompanying him will be members of his 'Alpha 5' team which consists of current and former US Air Force Special Warfare Pararescue Specialists. "To break the existing world record for the highest HALO formation skydive, the team will ascend to an altitude of 35,000 feet [10,700 metres] using a specially designed balloon," says the project's website. "From there, they will link arms and form a five-person formation before safely separating and landing," it says. "A representative from Guinness World Records will be present to assess and validate the record-setting achievement." The balloon that'll take the team to the high altitude is the largest balloon ever manufactured in the US. However, the skydive is highly dependent on weather and the team has said that date and time may shift in case of adverse conditions. The jump window is through October 15. The skydive is an effort to raise funds for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The aim is to raise USD 1 million. "The Special Operations Warrior Foundation's enduring promise to America's Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations personnel is to honor the fallen, and all Medal of Honor recipients, by providing full educations and additional opportunities, 'cradle to career' (preschool-college), to their children," reads the website of Special Operations Warrior Foundation. HALO skydives, as the full form suggests, are characterised by a jump from very high altitude and opening of the parachute just few hundred feet from the ground. For comparison, recreational skydiving involves jumping from about 15000 feet and opening of parachute when the skydiver is at 3000 feet. In HALO skydiving, the actual jump takes place at twice the altitude and the skydiver opens his or her parachute when merely 800 feet above the ground. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

73-year-old private astronaut prepares for highest ever skydive in five-person formation

A 29-year-old skydiver from Australia reportedly died in Texas while testing a new method of the sport called ‘swooping’. The champion skydiver from Perth, Melissa Porter was an instructor at Skydive Spaceland Houston. She was attempting the new high-risk method that eventually led to a hard landing, due to which she fell into shallow water, as per ABC 13 Houston.&nbsp;

As per witnesses, Melissa’s parachute deployed during the “advanced landing manoeuvre”. As per the Australian media company, news.com.au, the parachute was too close to the ground. Melissa was declared dead after being rushed to a nearby hospital.

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Investigators noticed no blunt force trauma to her body and were unsure if she had suffered a medical emergency either. Her actual cause of death will be determined by the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office.&nbsp;

Melissa’s mother, Vonnie Porter, was asked to call the hospital in the United States. She subsequently received the heartbreaking news of her daughter’s death. "I said, 'I'm ringing about Mel Porter.' I said, 'She's been in a skydiving accident'," Vonnie told 9News. "He said, 'She is dead.'”

Watch |&nbsp;Spain's indoor skydiving thrills visually impaired adventurists

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"She's my baby and she's not coming home,” Vonnie said, adding that Melissa "loved" the sport. "That was her happy place. She'll forever be in the sky roaming the world now," she said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is now "providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian woman who died in the United States".

"We send our deepest condolences to the woman's family," a DFAT spokesperson said.

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Last month, Melissa helped set a skydiving record in Queensland. She was one of only 23 women who jumped at Skydive Ramblers in Toogoolawah on May 6. Melissa finished the ‘2-point 23 way’, which is an Australian women’s total-break sequential record.&nbsp;

<h2>What is ‘swooping’ in skydiving and why is it risky?</h2>

Skydiving swooping is a more advanced version of canopy piloting where an individual induces speed through specific manoeuvres and dives the canopy towards the earth, all while leaving enough time for the canopy to level out and glide horizontally across the ground.&nbsp;

Skydiving, in general, and swooping, in particular,&nbsp;involve&nbsp;certain margins of error and hence is a risky sport. When it comes to swooping, it adds additional risks as the entire premise is to dive a high-performance parachute towards the earth to generate exceptional speeds. In this, the margin of error is dramatically reduced.&nbsp;

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The type of parachutes used for swooping is vastly different from the parachutes usually flown during your tandem skydive and even the parachutes piloted during your solo skydiving training.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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A 29-year-old skydiver from Australia reportedly died in Texas while testing a new method of the sport called ‘swooping’. The champion skydiver from Perth, Melissa Porter was an instructor at Skydive Spaceland Houston.

A 29-year-old skydiver from Australia reportedly died in Texas while testing a new method of the sport called ‘swooping’. The champion skydiver from Perth, Melissa Porter was an instructor at Skydive Spaceland Houston. She was attempting the new high-risk method that eventually led to a hard landing, due to which she fell into shallow water, as per ABC 13 Houston. As per witnesses, Melissa’s parachute deployed during the “advanced landing manoeuvre”. As per the Australian media company, news.com.au, the parachute was too close to the ground. Melissa was declared dead after being rushed to a nearby hospital. Also Read | Leaked photos: Hunter Biden smokes crack while driving at high speed, says report Investigators noticed no blunt force trauma to her body and were unsure if she had suffered a medical emergency either. Her actual cause of death will be determined by the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office. Melissa’s mother, Vonnie Porter, was asked to call the hospital in the United States. She subsequently received the heartbreaking news of her daughter’s death. "I said, 'I'm ringing about Mel Porter.' I said, 'She's been in a skydiving accident'," Vonnie told 9News. "He said, 'She is dead.'” Watch | Spain's indoor skydiving thrills visually impaired adventurists × "She's my baby and she's not coming home,” Vonnie said, adding that Melissa "loved" the sport. "That was her happy place. She'll forever be in the sky roaming the world now," she said. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is now "providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian woman who died in the United States". "We send our deepest condolences to the woman's family," a DFAT spokesperson said. Also Read | Watch: The moment Indian man gets tasered and arrested by UK police for triple murder Last month, Melissa helped set a skydiving record in Queensland. She was one of only 23 women who jumped at Skydive Ramblers in Toogoolawah on May 6. Melissa finished the ‘2-point 23 way’, which is an Australian women’s total-break sequential record. What is ‘swooping’ in skydiving and why is it risky? Skydiving swooping is a more advanced version of canopy piloting where an individual induces speed through specific manoeuvres and dives the canopy towards the earth, all while leaving enough time for the canopy to level out and glide horizontally across the ground. Skydiving, in general, and swooping, in particular, involve certain margins of error and hence is a risky sport. When it comes to swooping, it adds additional risks as the entire premise is to dive a high-performance parachute towards the earth to generate exceptional speeds. In this, the margin of error is dramatically reduced. Also Read | Canada: Mysterious brain illness causes concern in New Brunswick The type of parachutes used for swooping is vastly different from the parachutes usually flown during your tandem skydive and even the parachutes piloted during your solo skydiving training. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

What is ‘swooping’, the skydiving technique that killed an Australian skydiver in Texas?

A skydiving instructor and their customer died Sunday after falling from a plane before a tandem jump in Australia.

Police said two people died in the accident at Goulburn, about two hours' drive southwest of Sydney, after the aircraft began experiencing "difficulty".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-airs-old-election-grievances-at-campaign-style-rally-394254">Also Read |&nbsp;Trump airs old election grievances at campaign-style rally</a>

"Two parachutists fell from the aircraft and landed near the runway of the airport. They were located unresponsive and unable to be revived," police said in a statement.

Scott Marshall, from Adrenaline Skydive Goulburn, told The Daily Telegraph newspaper it was a "horrible day" for all those impacted by the tragedy.

"Sadly, a tandem master and passenger lost their lives. My heart goes out to their families," he said.

The incident will be investigated by police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

A skydiving instructor and their customer died Sunday after falling from a plane before a tandem jump in Australia. Police said two people died in the accident at Goulburn, about two hours' drive southwest of Sydney, after the aircraft began experiencing "difficulty".

A skydiving instructor and their customer died Sunday after falling from a plane before a tandem jump in Australia. Police said two people died in the accident at Goulburn, about two hours' drive southwest of Sydney, after the aircraft began experiencing "difficulty". Also Read | Trump airs old election grievances at campaign-style rally "Two parachutists fell from the aircraft and landed near the runway of the airport. They were located unresponsive and unable to be revived," police said in a statement. Scott Marshall, from Adrenaline Skydive Goulburn, told The Daily Telegraph newspaper it was a "horrible day" for all those impacted by the tragedy. "Sadly, a tandem master and passenger lost their lives. My heart goes out to their families," he said. The incident will be investigated by police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Two skydivers die after falling from plane in Australia

A 102-year-old woman, Irene O'Shea, earned her a place in the history books after she broke a record and became the oldest skydiver on Sunday.

Centenarian adrenaline junkie plunged 14,000 feet (4,300 metres) through the South Australian sky in her third diving.

The centenarian had earlier completed her first diving at the age of 100 in 2016.&nbsp;

O'Shea who took the plunge to raise money for a motor neurone disease that killed her daughter said she "felt normal" after the dive.

"It was very clear up there, and the weather was good but it was very cold," an Australian media stated&nbsp;O'Shea as saying.

(With inputs from AFP)

A 102-year-old woman, Irene O'Shea, earned her a place in the history books after she broke a record and became the oldest skydiver on Sunday. Centenarian adrenaline junkie plunged 14,000 feet (4,300 metres) through the South Australian sky in her third diving.

A 102-year-old woman, Irene O'Shea, earned her a place in the history books after she broke a record and became the oldest skydiver on Sunday. Centenarian adrenaline junkie plunged 14,000 feet (4,300 metres) through the South Australian sky in her third diving. The centenarian had earlier completed her first diving at the age of 100 in 2016. O'Shea who took the plunge to raise money for a motor neurone disease that killed her daughter said she "felt normal" after the dive. "It was very clear up there, and the weather was good but it was very cold," an Australian media stated O'Shea as saying. (With inputs from AFP)

102-year-old woman becomes 'oldest' skydiver

For Iranian parachuting enthusiast Bahareh Sassani, skydiving is &quot;a way to prove that women are just as capable as men&quot; -- a small step from a big height for women&#39;s equality in her country.&nbsp;

The 35-year-old accountant has been skydiving less than two years but already has more than 220 jumps under her belt.&nbsp;

&quot;I encourage all women to try this experience. It gives you the feeling you can do whatever you want. Women should not be excluded from anything,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

Sassani -- one of just a handful of female skydivers in her deeply conservative homeland -- refuses to describe herself as a &quot;feminist&quot;.

But her motto is firm &quot;there is no difference between men and women and a woman can do anything she wants and succeed&quot;.&nbsp;

That still runs against the grain of Iranian society, where women have had a lower legal status than men since the Islamic revolution of 1979 even if they have battled to stay equal in daily life.&nbsp;

Her favourite pastime is still very much the preserve of men in Iran -- made more complicated by the fact there is no parachuting club so she must do it with the army.&nbsp;

&quot;When they organise jumps, the army invites everyone, including civilians,&quot; she explained.&nbsp;

There were a handful of women parachutists in pre-revolutionary Iran: archived images published recently by the ISNA news agency showed the first four female army skydivers from 1965.&nbsp;

But today, women are not permitted to join the army.

The police have an elite unit that does some parachuting practice, but Sassani says she knows only five other qualified women from the civilian population.

Unlike her friends who chose to buy a car, clothes or jewellery with their first pay cheques or savings, Sassani said she opted instead to invest in parachuting, despite the adventurous sport being a male bastion in Iran.

At the start, her motivation for taking up skydiving was to combat a fear of heights, she said. But now she loves the sense of liberation from everyday cares that it gives her, she added.

Male reactions can be rather extreme though, she says.&nbsp;

&quot;Men often avoid women like me, thinking we aren&#39;t made for marriage because we are uncontrollable,&quot; she said, bursting into laughter.&nbsp;

&quot;But a small number do show an interest in what I&#39;m doing.&quot;

It can also generate interest abroad, said Sassani, who has jumped in Russia, Kenya, Thailand and the UAE.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

&quot;Even abroad, when I skydive, people are surprised. They think there are a lot of restrictions in Iran, but I explain to them that there are women doing motocross, flying planes and, yes, parachuting,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

A recent photo did the rounds in the Iranian media, showing Sassani jumping with an Iranian flag.&nbsp;

&quot;I meet lots of cultures and beliefs abroad, but I&#39;m a patriot and I love doing jumps in Iran more than anything,&quot; she adds.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Bahareh Sassani: "Men often avoid women like me, thinking we aren't made for marriage because we are uncontrollable"

For Iranian parachuting enthusiast Bahareh Sassani, skydiving is "a way to prove that women are just as capable as men" -- a small step from a big height for women's equality in her country. The 35-year-old accountant has been skydiving less than two years but already has more than 220 jumps under her belt. "I encourage all women to try this experience. It gives you the feeling you can do whatever you want. Women should not be excluded from anything," she said. Sassani -- one of just a handful of female skydivers in her deeply conservative homeland -- refuses to describe herself as a "feminist". But her motto is firm "there is no difference between men and women and a woman can do anything she wants and succeed". That still runs against the grain of Iranian society, where women have had a lower legal status than men since the Islamic revolution of 1979 even if they have battled to stay equal in daily life. Her favourite pastime is still very much the preserve of men in Iran -- made more complicated by the fact there is no parachuting club so she must do it with the army. "When they organise jumps, the army invites everyone, including civilians," she explained. There were a handful of women parachutists in pre-revolutionary Iran: archived images published recently by the ISNA news agency showed the first four female army skydivers from 1965. But today, women are not permitted to join the army. The police have an elite unit that does some parachuting practice, but Sassani says she knows only five other qualified women from the civilian population. Unlike her friends who chose to buy a car, clothes or jewellery with their first pay cheques or savings, Sassani said she opted instead to invest in parachuting, despite the adventurous sport being a male bastion in Iran. At the start, her motivation for taking up skydiving was to combat a fear of heights, she said. But now she loves the sense of liberation from everyday cares that it gives her, she added. Male reactions can be rather extreme though, she says. "Men often avoid women like me, thinking we aren't made for marriage because we are uncontrollable," she said, bursting into laughter. "But a small number do show an interest in what I'm doing." It can also generate interest abroad, said Sassani, who has jumped in Russia, Kenya, Thailand and the UAE. "Even abroad, when I skydive, people are surprised. They think there are a lot of restrictions in Iran, but I explain to them that there are women doing motocross, flying planes and, yes, parachuting," she said. A recent photo did the rounds in the Iranian media, showing Sassani jumping with an Iranian flag. "I meet lots of cultures and beliefs abroad, but I'm a patriot and I love doing jumps in Iran more than anything," she adds.

Iranian woman skydiver looks to break down stereotypes

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