Two women died Friday in Lake Elsinore while training to set a new state skydiving record, according to authorities and a witness. Deputies received a report of an air emergency in the 20000 block of Cereal Street shortly before noon, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lt. Deirdre Vickers wrote in an email. When they arrived, they found two skydivers on the ground receiving medical aid.
Both skydivers were taken to a hospital in critical condition, where they were later pronounced dead. Chazi Rutz, a professional skydiver from Arizona, told The Times that the two skydivers were part of a group training to set a California record for largest formation in the upright orientation performed by women. In such an orientation, participants appear as though they are sitting in the air.
Rutz, 46, declined to share the women’s names, but described them as experienced skydivers who were passionate about the extreme sport. They were “outgoing, kind, fun women to be around,” Rutz said. The existing record for the discipline, Rutz said, was a 12-way formation. The group had hoped to set a new record with a 19-way formation. The skydivers — including Rutz — jumped from a plane and held each other’s hands Friday morning.
The first minute of free fall was uneventful, Rutz said. Tragedy struck soon after they deployed their parachutes. Rutz said the two skydivers got too close to each other, causing their opened parachutes to become entangled. “We were doing something we loved, working toward a common goal,” Rutz said. “We’re saddened by this accident … sometimes all you can do is just breathe.” Vickers said the investigation is ongoing, and no further details were available.
In March 2023, a woman training to skydive solo flew her parachute into live power lines in Lake Elsinore. She was rescued by the Riverside County firefighters and walked away without injuries. In May, one person was killed and another injured after a skydiving accident in Perris.
