A skydiver has died after walking backwards into a plane’s propeller while taking pictures on her phone.
Amanda Gallagher, 37, was photographing fellow skydivers embarking and disembarking from planes when she stepped backwards into a propeller and suffered critical injuries at an airfield in Kansas.
Emergency services descended upon the Wichita Cook Airfield and Amanda was rushed to hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries and later died on October 26.
Friends have since launched a GoFundMe to help Amanda’s family with funeral costs while they deal with the grief of losing their daughter.
While the incident remains under investigation, authorities are thought to be treating her death as an accident.
In a touching tribute, GoFundME organiser Abbey Charboneau wrote: ‘Amanda Gallagher was kind, adventurous, creative and beautiful inside and out. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend and will be greatly missed.
‘On October 26th, Amanda passed away in a very sad accident, doing what she loved, skydiving and taking pictures! As her family processes through this tragic accident, they could use your help covering the funeral expenses. Please consider helping them out and also keeping them all in your prayers’.
On Facebook, pal Ashley Nicole Willard commented: ‘She was a very close family friend, so close, I would consider her a sister.
‘A ceremony should be held in her honor or something should be always proudly displayed honoring Amanda and her love for photography and her recent passion for skydiving.’
Cook Airfield also released a statement paying tribute to Amanda, and wrote: ‘Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the young lady who died yesterday after a tragic accident with an airplane propeller on Cook Airfield. I wasn’t there when it happened, so I will not speculate on what could have or should have happened differently.
‘Just please keep her family, her friends and her Air Capital Drop Zone family in your prayers and thoughts.’
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