Mother's shock at sky surf death

Pauline Richards took up sky surfing at the age of 41

The mother of a champion sky surfer, who died while taking part in a competition, has spoken of her daughter's love of the sport.

Pauline Richards, originally from Somerset, suffered head, internal and multiple leg injuries in a heavy landing during a sky surfing competition near Melbourne, Australia, last Thursday.

The sport involves performing stunts aerial on a snowboard-like board after freefalling from a plane at about 13,000ft.

Pauline's mother Susan Richards, from East Coker near Yeovil, said she understood the risks that went with the extreme sport.

Her 44-year-old daughter took up the sport three years ago and was Australia's number one female sky surfer.

'Sky diving'

Mrs Richards: "When you are doing sports like this you have to expect this kind of thing.

"We are terribly shocked but we are trying to be positive and to celebrate Pauline's life."

Miss Richards emigrated to South Africa when she was 19 and eventually moved to Australia about 14 years ago.

Mrs Richards, 67, added: "She was a very determined person who worked very hard at whatever she did to get to the top.

"She was also into parachuting and sky diving and was a very fit person.

"She died doing what she loved doing and we will always remember her as a beautiful young person."

In her home village, residents have also spoken of the shock of Ms Richards's death.

One described her as being fanatical about her sport and said she was one of the most accomplished skydivers and sky surfers in the world.