ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Mum of 8 dies in horrifying skydiving accident

The woman was given the jump as a 50th birthday present. - by Aidan S
  • 16 Oct 2017
Mum of 8 dies in horrifying skydiving accident
ABC News

A mother-of-eight has died alongside two experienced instructors in a horrifying skydiving accident.

Kerri Pike, the wife of former Cassowary Coast Councillor Alister Pike, was killed while taking part in a tandem skydive at Mission Beach in far north Queensland on Friday.

And in a tragic twist, the mum was given the daredevil jump as a 50th birthday present from her husband and children.

Peter Dawson and Toby Turner, both highly experienced instructors and close friends, also died in the accident.

facebook
Facebook

'We're all shattered,' a member of Skydive staff told the Courier Mail. 

'Most of us have known all three of them for years.'

Emergency services were called to the scene on Alexander Drive shortly after 3pm, with the victims treated for critical injuries but pronounced dead.

Queensland Police said that initial investigations indicated one of the instructor's - who was skydiving solo - collided with the tandem pair mid-air, with their parachutes failing to open.

It is believed the bodies of Mrs Pike and her instructor were found tangled in a tree on a banana farm, about 1.5km from the regular landing zone, NewsCorp reports. The body of the other instructor was located in the garden of a nearby house.

'One of the deceased, a highly experienced instructor who had completed thousands of jumps, was completing a solo jump,’ a statement from Skydive Australia read.

'The other two were jumping as a tandem pair: a highly experienced instructor and a customer.'

The company said skydiving operations had been suspended at Mission Beach while authorities conduct an extensive investigation.

 An eyewitness revealed to the Cairns Post how they watched in horror as the scene unfolded.

'You could see one chute was tangled and it wasn't opening,' the man who chose to go unnamed said. 

'I was just watching him in free fall until he went behind the trees, and that was the last I saw.' 

He said that it appeared as if the skydiver did not activate a backup parachute.

'It wasn't good to watch. I had my heart in my mouth.'

The Today Show on Twitter

This article originally appeared on New Idea.

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

I turn people into art!

I turn people into art!

Holly the heart hero

Holly the heart hero

30-year heartbreak  - who killed Kerry Turner?

30-year heartbreak - who killed Kerry Turner?

My runny nose was cancer

My runny nose was cancer

{headline}

{headline}

I was paralysed at the beach

I was paralysed at the beach

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

{headline}

{headline}

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Back from the brink!

Back from the brink!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

I woke up with no hands and feet

I woke up with no hands and feet

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!