Pregnant Skydiver Survives Plunge....Ouch! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

The Chauffeur · 12-14-2005, 05:04 PM

Pregnant Skydiver Survives Plunge
Wednesday Dec 14, 2005 3:00pm EST

Novice skydiver Shayna Richardson has survived a harrowing face-first plunge into a parking lot while making her premiere solo jump in Siloam Springs, Ark.

Then, after the fall, the 21-year-old found out she was pregnant.

When Richardson made the jump on Oct. 9, her main parachute failed – and then her reserve chute also malfunctioned. Richardson was traveling at about 50 mph when she landed face first on the asphalt, the Associated Press reports.

"I heard a snap and I started spinning and I didn't know why. I didn't know what to do to fix it. I didn't know how to make it stop," Richardson told Fort Smith, Ark., television station KFSM.

She then cut her primary chute so her reserve could deploy. "It's called your guaranteed open. That's what everyone refers to it as," said Richardson, who spent 16 days in a hospital after her reserve didn't fully open either. "To have a malfunctioning reserve is one in a million. It just doesn't happen."

While falling, Richardson spun out of control and headed straight for a parking lot below.

"I don't remember hitting the ground. I don't remember the impact or anything that came with it," she told AP. "In the hit, I egg shelled my entire face. Everything got egg shelled. I broke my pelvis in two places and I broke my leg."

Rescuers got her to a hospital in Fayetteville where Richardson underwent surgery.

"I went into the first surgery where they cut me from ear to ear and they cut my face down and they took out all the fractured egg-shelled bones and put in steel plates," Richardson sai. It wasn't until this treatment that doctors discovered Richardson was pregnant, which was a surprise to her.

She said she would not have jumped had she known she was pregnant.

"To hit the ground belly first – that's dangerous. I mean at any stage of pregnancy that's dangerous," Richardson said. "That's not something you want to do let alone at 50 miles per hour."

But after four surgeries, today Richardson said she and her fetus are doing fine.

"Just this last week we went and saw the doctor and we've got arms, we've got legs. We've got a full face," she said. "The baby is moving around just fine. The heart rate looks good. So not only did God save me but he spared this baby."

Richardson has 15 steel plates in her face and lost six teeth. Her fall was videotaped, and "I wanted to watch it," she said. "The whole reason I'm comfortable with watching it is because I know how it ends."

Richardson, whose due date is June 25, said she doesn't plan to quit her skydiving hobby after she gives birth. She's planning another parachute jump next August.

Dumballa · 12-14-2005, 05:22 PM

Wow! I don't know if I'm doin that again after the supposedly 'guaranteed open' shoot failed on me.

Kay Scarpetta · 12-14-2005, 05:44 PM

Wow. She's one brave woman.

dawsongirl · 12-15-2005, 01:35 AM

After having my face smashed and then ripped open, I don't think I'd do ANYTHING else. Of course, now that her face is almost robotic, couldn't hurt I guess.

80sTrivia · 12-15-2005, 07:10 AM

Yikes!!!

It is amazing that she survived at all... who survives a fall like that?

I am happy she did, and equally happy she is now expecting a child!

12-14-2005, 05:04 PM	#1
The Chauffeur Good Evening... Senior Member Join Date: Jan 24, 2005 Location: Under the sun Posts: 2,866	Pregnant Skydiver Survives Plunge....Ouch! Pregnant Skydiver Survives Plunge Wednesday Dec 14, 2005 3:00pm EST Novice skydiver Shayna Richardson has survived a harrowing face-first plunge into a parking lot while making her premiere solo jump in Siloam Springs, Ark. Then, after the fall, the 21-year-old found out she was pregnant. When Richardson made the jump on Oct. 9, her main parachute failed – and then her reserve chute also malfunctioned. Richardson was traveling at about 50 mph when she landed face first on the asphalt, the Associated Press reports. "I heard a snap and I started spinning and I didn't know why. I didn't know what to do to fix it. I didn't know how to make it stop," Richardson told Fort Smith, Ark., television station KFSM. She then cut her primary chute so her reserve could deploy. "It's called your guaranteed open. That's what everyone refers to it as," said Richardson, who spent 16 days in a hospital after her reserve didn't fully open either. "To have a malfunctioning reserve is one in a million. It just doesn't happen." While falling, Richardson spun out of control and headed straight for a parking lot below. "I don't remember hitting the ground. I don't remember the impact or anything that came with it," she told AP. "In the hit, I egg shelled my entire face. Everything got egg shelled. I broke my pelvis in two places and I broke my leg." Rescuers got her to a hospital in Fayetteville where Richardson underwent surgery. "I went into the first surgery where they cut me from ear to ear and they cut my face down and they took out all the fractured egg-shelled bones and put in steel plates," Richardson sai. It wasn't until this treatment that doctors discovered Richardson was pregnant, which was a surprise to her. She said she would not have jumped had she known she was pregnant. "To hit the ground belly first – that's dangerous. I mean at any stage of pregnancy that's dangerous," Richardson said. "That's not something you want to do let alone at 50 miles per hour." But after four surgeries, today Richardson said she and her fetus are doing fine. "Just this last week we went and saw the doctor and we've got arms, we've got legs. We've got a full face," she said. "The baby is moving around just fine. The heart rate looks good. So not only did God save me but he spared this baby." Richardson has 15 steel plates in her face and lost six teeth. Her fall was videotaped, and "I wanted to watch it," she said. "The whole reason I'm comfortable with watching it is because I know how it ends." Richardson, whose due date is June 25, said she doesn't plan to quit her skydiving hobby after she gives birth. She's planning another parachute jump next August.
	__________________ A.K.A...wynter72 "I got this whole thing worked out on a level that you wouldn't even BEGIN to understand baby. Ya see....This whole thing's a chess game, and this here Xerox machine's the POPE."

12-14-2005, 05:44 PM	#3
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	Wow. She's one brave woman.
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

12-15-2005, 07:10 AM	#5
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	Yikes!!! It is amazing that she survived at all... who survives a fall like that? I am happy she did, and equally happy she is now expecting a child!
	__________________ Perfect Gift Books for Pop Culture Fanatics: Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book The Bouquet Residence: A Keeping Up Appearances Trivia Book Cooking With the Golden Girls: Fun & Delicious Recipes from a Hilarious Miami Kitchen Love in the Afternoon: The Ultimate Soap Opera Trivia Book The Last Great Decade: The Ultimate 90s Trivia Book Betty White: A Celebration

12-14-2005, 05:22 PM	#2
Dumballa Sight beyond sight. Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 05, 2005 Location: Lighthouse Point Posts: 6,384	Wow! I don't know if I'm doin that again after the supposedly 'guaranteed open' shoot failed on me.

12-15-2005, 01:35 AM	#4
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	After having my face smashed and then ripped open, I don't think I'd do ANYTHING else. Of course, now that her face is almost robotic, couldn't hurt I guess.