'Miracle' escape for SA skydiver

Christine McKenzie says she will be going up -and coming down - again

A South African skydiver is recovering in hospital after surviving an 11,000ft jump when her parachute failed to open.

As Christine McKenzie spiralled towards the ground, her emergency parachute also failed to work properly, but she hit power lines which broke her fall.

The 23-year-old suffered a fractured pelvic bone and some bruising but is walking and will leave hospital soon.

"I hit the ground really hard and I was kinda waiting to die. Then the pain set in," she told the Star newspaper.

"It all happened so fast," she said from her hospital bed.

Skydiving instructor Johan Mulder said they also expected the worst when they reached her on the ground

"She complained of pain in her legs and hips," he said, "but, later, she cracked jokes while we waited for the emergency helicopter," he said.

The 23-year-old, who is due to be married in December and was making her 112th jump, told the Star newspaper the experience would not put her off.

"I will jump again," she said from her hospital bed.

The failure of both a main and emergency parachute is extremely rare, according to members of her Johannesburg Skydivers Club.

The parachute and the harness are to be sent for investigation.