Skydiver rescued from powerlines in Riverside County

A skydiver got hung up in high-tension power lines just south of her landing zone after making a drop over Lake Elsinore on Monday.

Riverside County firefighters responded around 11:55 a.m. to Corydon Road, near Cereal Street.

Multiple engine and truck crews were sent to the scene and found the skydiver, tangled and dangling in the SoCal Edison electrical lines. 

"She was just up there chilling, which was surprising because that's pretty scary, you know," said witness Jose Olea. 

Witnesses like Olea watched in horror as the young woman remained suspended in the air for 37 minutes as crews de-energized the electric grid.

After confirming that SoCal Edison technicians had secured the lines, the rescue operation went forward, and the victim was extricated and pulled to safety around 12:50 p.m.

The skydiver was not electrocuted and was able to communicate with firefighters as they rescued her with an aerial ladder truck, officials said. Miraculously, she did not suffer any injuries.

"God saved her honestly," said Olea. "I'd say, with my luck, oh I'd be fried."

The parachutist was part of a group jump that originated from Skydive Elsinore, which operates a private airfield just a block north of where the skydiver got hung up. 

"The jumper was a student skydiver and was making her first jump," Skydive Elsinore said in a statement. "At some point during the parachute descent, the jumper became confused and flew away from an open landing area and into powerlines."

The student skydiver said she tried to miss another set of powerlines only to accidentally fly into another set of wires.