Holly Wiffen, a 35-year-old experienced parachutist, has recounted her survival of a harrowing skydive that began when another jumper accidentally kicked her in the head, rendering her unconscious at approximately 12,000 feet. The incident, which occurred on August 7, saw Wiffen plummeting towards the earth at speeds reaching up to 150 mph.
Fellow skydivers attempted to reach her, with one managing to briefly grasp her but was forced to deploy his own parachute at 3,000 feet. Wiffen, who has a history of 425 jumps, has no memory of her freefall, though she recalls a sensation of dreaming about skydiving. At some point, estimated to be around 1,000 feet, she manually deployed her emergency chute. Shortly after, a secondary parachute deployed automatically due to her high speed and low altitude.
The combination of the two deployed chutes created a 'downplane' effect, increasing her descent speed to between 40 and 50 mph. In a remarkable turn of events, Wiffen landed in a conifer tree in a field, which significantly broke her fall. This impact, while causing severe injuries, is credited with saving her life. A direct impact with open ground or power lines could have been fatal.
Wiffen was discovered by fellow jumpers who had to navigate thickets to reach her. She sustained a broken left leg and a fractured spine, requiring surgery six days after the accident. She is currently recovering at her parents' home. Despite the near-fatal experience, Wiffen expressed a desire to return to skydiving once she has recovered.
An investigation into the mid-air collision is expected, with experts noting such incidents are rare. Wiffen, who also engages in motorcycling and rock climbing, views her survival as a testament to luck and the unexpected cushioning effect of the tree.