Russian skydiver dies after trying to set world record in California

Doctors were unable to save the Russian female parachutist, a world and European champion Irina Sinitsyna, who slipped into a coma as a result of a botched jump attempt on September 23 in California.  Sinitsyna was skydiving in a group to set a world record. The athlete died in the morning on October 2 at Moscow's Burdenko Hospital.

Irina's brother, Boris, said that his sister would be buried in Moscow on Vostryakovskoye Cemetery, the Rossiyskaya Gazeta wrote.

The accident occurred on September 23 in the U.S. at Perris Valley airdrome. A large group of skydivers from all over the world, including Russia, attempted to set a new world record in skydiving. One hundred athletes wearing special aerodynamic wingsuits created a formation in the air during the jump. The previous record had 68 skydivers involved.

In the air, Irina collided with another skydiver, got caught up in her lines and fell to the ground. The woman was unable to open the reserve parachute. The ambulance helicopter brought the woman to a hospital; she was in a coma. Doctors later said that the Russian skydiver broke several vertebrae.

On September 28, the Russian athlete was flown from the U.S. to Moscow. She was hospitalized as the Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgery. The doctors did their best, but the injury was too serious, Vesti.ru reports.

Irina Sinitsyna is Russia's multiple record holder in parachuting, a two-time world and European champion. Irina conducted more than 1,500 jumps.