Vic skydiver tells of storm terror
A battered and bruised skydiver who was forced to ditch into the bay as a wild storm lashed parts of Melbourne has told of his dramatic emergency landing.
After a morning of soaring temperatures and uncomfortable humidity, a freak and furious blast hit parts of the city yesterday afternoon, taking many by surprise.
The wild weather, which toppled trees, caused power outages and wreaked havoc on the city's roads, also brought down 14 tandem skydivers during a jump off St Kilda foreshore.
Three have spent the night in hospital, including Daniel Kemmink, who suffered four broken ribs after he and his instructor, Jeremy, plummeted heavily into the ocean.
Speaking to Seven News from his hospital bed, Daniel said he knew something was wrong the moment he leapt from the plane.
"As soon as I chucked my legs out of the plane all I felt was this massive gust of wind and hail hitting me. I thought 'I could be in some serious trouble here'," he said.
"All I could do was sort of crunch myself up, close my eyes and hope that we make it to the bottom OK."
As the daredevils plummeted towards the ground, they were pelted with rain and hail before wild winds blew their parachute off course.
"He (instructor, Jeremy) said 'alright man, we've got to hit the water so brace yourself'.
"I chucked my legs up and as soon as we hit the water there was a massive bang. I was instantly winded and I couldn't breathe.
"I was under the water for so long, I thought 'this is it, I'm going to drown'."
Daniel said he was submerged underwater for about 10 to 15 seconds as the weight of the parachute beared down.
"I could feel ourselves getting dragged away," he said. "The parachute was out of the water and forcing us further out into the ocean. I couldn't so anything to stop the force. It was quite traumatising."
Eventually, Daniel said he managed to muster enough energy to pull himself to the surface.
"I relaxed myself the best I could until I felt sand underneath my feet. Once I did that, I forced myself up and more or less helped Jeremy with his injury as well.
"That initial first breath was a massive relief."
Daniel and Jeremy were pulled from the water by rescue crews after witnesses on the beach raised the alarm.
Fairfax reports the Australian Parachute Agency, which monitors skydiving safety, is investigating.
Seven's national meteorologist David Brown said severe storms with heavy rain, damaging winds and hail could return this afternoon. The temperature is forecast to hit 33 degrees.
"Later this afternoon after 2pm an approaching low pressure trough will provide a broad trigger and set off extensive stormy weather across the state, especially over central and eastern districts.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning for E VIC (east of Shepparton/Traralgon) - risk of damaging winds, large hail, heavy rain pic.twitter.com/t3KsFTNHys
— Jane Bunn (@janesweather7) January 8, 2015
Showers & (poss severe) storms next few hours, ahead of rain/cool change - #Melbourne & Victoria. Then days of soaking rain. @7NewsMelbourne
— Jane Bunn (@janesweather7) January 8, 2015
@7NewsMelbourne @DavidWBrown7 took this cracker in Narre Warren South last night!! @leoniew27 pic.twitter.com/oZUezRyJfs
— Mel Palling (@MelPalling) January 8, 2015
"The winds in the middle atmosphere are strong and once the storms get underway squalls in excess of 100km/hr are highly like.
"Flash flooding and large hail is a real possibility too.
"The storm threat should ease tomorrow, but rain up to 100 mm is expected to affect vast areas of South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania this weekend into early next week."
The State Emergency Service took more than 1000 calls for assistance in two hours when storms hit about 2.30pm Wednesday afternoon, spokesman Stefan Delatovic said.
Of those, 765 calls came from Whitehorse, Knox and Maroondah and another 135 from around Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula.
Most calls were for fallen trees, with some for minor to moderate building damage, while occupants were forced to leave two houses that suffered significant damage at Ringwood and Vermont.
Mr Delatovic urged Melbourne residents to tie down or secure loose objects around their homes and clear gutters ahead of Thursday's predicted storms.