Husband of killed skydiver Kerri Pike reveals grief

The devastated husband of a woman killed in a Queensland skydiving incident has expressed his grief at losing the ‘love of his life’.

Alister Pike took to Facebook to post a tribute to his wife Kerri Pike after she plummeted to her death alongside instructors Toby Turner and Peter Dawson on Friday.

The experience had been a 50th birthday present from Ms Pike’s family, with six of her eight children believed to have watched the tragic event occur, according to Nine News. 

 

The devastated husband of mother-of-eight Kerri Pike (right), who was killed in a Queensland skydiving incident on Friday, has expressed his grief at losing the ‘love of his life’

Alister Pike took to Facebook to post a tribute to his beloved wife after she plummeted to her death alongside instructors Toby Turner and Peter Dawson in Mission Beach

Alister Pike took to Facebook to post a tribute to his beloved wife after she plummeted to her death alongside instructors Toby Turner and Peter Dawson in Mission Beach

‘I lost the love of my life yesterday. Please give me some time to gather my thoughts. We will be out scaring those fish soon,’ Mr Pike wrote.

He also shared an image of the mother, with hundreds of people taking to the comments section to offer heartfelt condolences.

‘So sorry for you and the kids Alister. Take care and know that all of us in Mission Beach are in mourning with you,’ one touching comment read.

Another stated: ‘I just can’t wrap my head around this awful tragedy. We are all thinking of you and the kids and sending our deepest condolences… The whole community is behind you.’

While one person stated they hoped the ‘many beautiful memories you have of the wonderful times spent together with Kerri’ could give the family strength.

The couple are believed to have been well-known in the Mission Beach community, with Mr Pike a former Cassowary Coast councillor.

 'I lost the love of my life yesterday. Please give me some time to gather my thoughts. We will be out scaring those fish soon,' Mr Pike (pictured here with his wife) said

 ‘I lost the love of my life yesterday. Please give me some time to gather my thoughts. We will be out scaring those fish soon,’ Mr Pike (pictured here with his wife) said

Experienced skydiving instructor Peter Dawson (pictured) had been tandem-jumping with Ms Pike, with the footage police are investigating shot from his camera

Instructor Toby Turner was also killed in the accident and had been jumping solo

Experienced skydiving instructors Peter Dawson (left) and Toby Turner (right) were also killed with investigators hoping footage from Mr Dawson’s helmet camera will provide answers about how the tragedy unfolded

Mr Turner had been diving solo and Ms Pike had been in a tandem jump with Mr Dawson when the trio were killed Friday afternoon.

Video captured during the fatal skydiving incident has since been uncovered, with police working to retrieve the footage from Mr Dawson’s damaged helmet camera, the Courier Mail reports.

Initial investigations indicated the three divers experienced a mid-air collision, with their parachutes failing to deploy, Queensland Police said.

However, Australian Parachute Federation executive Brad Turner told Newscorp that all parachutes were open and the victims may have been rendered unconscious.

‘Both the tandem and solo had parachutes open and the reserves had also deployed,’ Mr Turner said.

‘Hopefully, that video footage will show something to give us some clues into what went wrong.’

Mr Turner had been diving solo and Ms Pike had been in a tandem jump with Mr Dawson when the trio were killed Friday afternoon

Mr Turner had been diving solo and Ms Pike had been in a tandem jump with Mr Dawson when the trio were killed Friday afternoon

 Initial investigations indicated the three divers (including Ms Pike pictured) experienced a mid-air collision, with further reports stating 'both the tandem and solo had parachutes open and the reserves had also deployed'

 Initial investigations indicated the three divers (including Ms Pike pictured) experienced a mid-air collision, with further reports stating ‘both the tandem and solo had parachutes open and the reserves had also deployed’

Emergency services were called to the scene on Alexander Drive around 3.15pm, with the victims treated for critical injuries but pronounced dead.

It is understood the bodies of Ms Pike and Mr Dawson were found tangled in a tree on a banana farm, while Mr Turner’s body was located in the garden of a nearby house.  

‘One of the deceased, a highly experienced instructor who had completed thousands of jumps, was completing a solo jump,’ Skydive Australia said in a statement.

‘The other two were jumping as a tandem pair: a highly experienced instructor and a customer.’ 

The company said skydiving operations had been suspended at Mission Beach while authorities conducted their extensive investigation.

They also extended their ‘deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the individuals and families involved and the broader skydiving community’.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Alexander Drive around 3.15pm, with the tandem divers found tangled in a tree and Mr Turner (pictured) discovered in a nearby garden

Emergency services were called to the scene on Alexander Drive around 3.15pm, with the tandem divers found tangled in a tree and Mr Turner (pictured) discovered in a nearby garden

Skydive Australia suspended operation at Mission Beach while authorities conducted an extensive investigation and gave their 'deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the individuals and families involved'

Skydive Australia suspended operation at Mission Beach while authorities conducted an extensive investigation and gave their ‘deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the individuals and families involved’

Rob Dawson, the brother of one of the skydiver’s killed, spoke with Daily Mail Australia on Saturday and recalled his siblings passion for heights.

‘L’appel du Vide. It means ‘call of the void’,’ he said.

Peter Dawson (pictured) loved jumping - his brother Rob explained in a heartbreaking tribute following the skydiver's death

Peter Dawson (pictured) loved jumping – his brother Rob explained in a heartbreaking tribute following the skydiver’s death

‘It’s where you’re standing at the edge of a cliff and feel the urge to jump… Well, Pete always jumped.’

Mr Dawson had been an experienced skydiver with a huge passion for the sport, successfully completing the jump over Mission Beach hundreds of times.

Known as ‘Daws’ to his mates, the ‘cheeky’ instructor also loved fishing and other adventure sports like rock climbing and boating.

Mr Turner, who was his friend and also died in the fall, had been around the world chasing the thrill of jumping.

He had taken his passion for skydiving and base jumping to several continents and was part of the ‘base jumpers without borders’ group.  

Many in the small community of Mission Beach knew both the instructors, as well as Ms Pike, whose husband Alister is a former Cassowary Coast Councillor.

On Friday night, friends of the three – including tearful members of Skydive Australia’s staff – grieved the loss at a beachside bar.

‘We’re all shattered… Most of us have known all three of them for years,’ one person told the Courier Mail. 

Many in the small community of Mission Beach knew Mr Dawson (pictured), Mr Turner and Mrs Pike, with one person stating the town was 'shattered'

Many in the small community of Mission Beach knew Mr Dawson (pictured), Mr Turner and Mrs Pike, with one person stating the town was ‘shattered’

Mr Turner (pictured) loved base jumping  and diving, completing thousands of falls previously

An avid diver, Mr Turner, had been around the world chasing the thrill of jumping

Mr Turner (pictured) loved base jumping and diving, completing thousands of falls previously

On Friday night, friends of the three - including tearful members of Skydive Australia's staff - grieved the loss at a beachside bar

On Friday night, friends of the three – including tearful members of Skydive Australia’s staff – grieved the loss at a beachside bar

Local Councillor Wayne Kimberley said the incident was a terrible tragedy, while Cassowary Coast Mayor John Kremastos described the news as devastating, according to the ABC.

‘We are very, very saddened to hear about this news and right now I feel quite gutted actually,’ he said.

‘It’s horrible news for the families and the thoughts of the council and the residents go to all those concerned and the families of those that have been killed.’ 

Mission Beach, located between Cairns and Townsville, is a regular skydiving spot for tourists, with the incident the worst in the industry for the last 40 years. 

Skydive Australia, with representatives seen talking to police, confirmed that two highly experienced instructors and a customer were killed in a statement

Skydive Australia, with representatives seen talking to police, confirmed that two highly experienced instructors and a customer were killed in a statement

Skydiving operations were suspended by the company at Mission Beach while authorities conducted their investigations

Skydiving operations were suspended by the company at Mission Beach while authorities conducted their investigations

Skydivers were pictured landing safely on the Mission Beach site earlier in the day

Skydivers were pictured landing safely on the Mission Beach site earlier in the day

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk