One smash on the ground is not going to keep Kenzie Markey down, says a friend of the skydiver whose jump went terribly wrong on April 6.
The 32-year-old, who lives in Brackendale, was in Phoenix, Ariz., practicing formation skydiving when her parachute collapsed, sending her plummeting to Earth, Kelley Richardson told The Chief.
No one saw the accident. Markey was doing an individual jump at the time, Richardson said, noting a group of skydivers found her on the ground. There’s speculation Markey got caught in a dust devil — a whirlwind, Richardson said.
“She’s done more than 100 jumps over three years,” she noted.
For four days Markey was in a coma. Now in stable condition, Markey’s family and friends are faced with the challenge of getting her home and paying mounting medical bills south of the border.
Markey’s TD Insurance states that “hazardous activities,” including skydiving, aren’t covered under the plan. With medical payments anticipated to surpass $500,000, Richardson set up an online fundraiser to ease the blow to the family.
“I felt kind of helpless up here,” she said.
Richardson has been in touch with West Vancouver-Sea-to-Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy. Canadian officials are seeing whether it’s possible to transport Markey to Lions Gate Hospital, where a bed is awaiting her. Just getting Markey home will take money out of the family’s pocket, Richardson added, noting if the Canadian government steps in, the transportation bill would sit at approximately $20,000 — $10,000 less than if the move was coordinated in the U.S.
Richardson is thankful her friend is alive. When the Victoria resident saw that Markey’s father had tried to contact her on April 10, her heart dropped. The two have been friends since Grade 8, where they both attended school in Nova Scotia.
“[Markey] is an adrenaline junkie to the extreme,” Richardson said. “Anything you can get a rush on, she does.”
After a week, the “Help Kenzie” campaign has raised more than $14,000. Markey has already undergone three surgeries and, so far, doctors don’t anticipate she’ll have permanent brain damage, Richardson said.
“She is considered stable, but she is highly medicated at this point,” she said.
Richardson plans to host a fundraising event in Whistler in the coming months. If anyone can make it through this kind of ordeal, it’s Markey, Richardson said.
“I called her cellphone and told her she couldn’t die on me,” she said.
To donate to the fundraiser visit www.fundrazr.com/campaigns/ejwE3.
