'Parachute opened perfectly'

2006-01-10 14:11

Cape Town - The chairperson of the Parachute Association of South Africa (Pasa) on Tuesday denied police claims that a parachute which failed to open caused the death of a 24-year-old woman skydiver at the Rustenburg Flying Club.

Speaking to News24, Pasa chairperson Carlos Cabral said, "The woman was a student skydiver, participating in her second static line jump. The parachute opened perfectly as she exited the aircraft.

"However, she failed to unstow the steering lines properly. She only undid one, which caused the parachute to start spiralling, after which it hit the ground."

The woman, which earlier reports identified as Milliscent Malesela, died instantly on impact with the ground after the accident on Monday.

Cabral added that the incident had been investigated by the association's national training and safety officer, Mark Bellingham, who had taken possession of Malesela's equipment, as well as witness statements to indentify the cause of the accident.

- News24