Aussie skydiving legend dies
A record-holding Australian skydiver has died after an accident doing the sport she loved.
Melissa Porter, originally from Port Kennedy in WA, died at the Skydive Spaceland facility in Texas on June 24 after an accident during her jump.
Its understood that Ms Porter was testing out a new skydiving technique when she passed away.
The skydiving community has flooded social media with tributes to Ms Porter.
“Mel was a magical person who touched the hearts of many people in the 40 countries she visited in her 29 years,” friend Nicholas Lott said on social media.
“She had finally found a place that felt like home here in Texas, but unfortunately she wasn‘t able to stay as long as any of us would have hoped.
“Those close to her have found great solace in the fact that she passed doing what she truly loved.”
“The level of love you gave that helped me through some of my darkest times, I would not be who I am if not for you being there for me,” another friend said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to her family.
“We send our deepest condolences to the woman’s family,” a spokesperson said.
She had only recently moved to Texas to be involved with the local skydiving scene, posting in April that it “feels more like home than anywhere else in this world”.
Ms Porter had recently been part of a crew of female skydivers who set an Australian women’s total-break sequential record -- the “2-point 23 way”.
