Toronto university student who died in skydiving accident remembered as 'one of the bravest' people
A 21-year-old Toronto university student and TikTok influencer who died after opening her parachute too late while skydiving is being remembered by friends as "one of the bravest girls."
According to friends, Tanya Pardazi died on Saturday while completing her first solo dive with Skydive Toronto in Innisfil, Ont.
The company said in a statement Sunday the student "released a quickly-rotating main parachute at a low altitude without the time or altitude required for the reserve parachute to inflate."
She was transported to hospital where she was pronounced dead.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Pardazi was studying philosophy at the University of Toronto and ran a successful TikTok account with nearly 100,000 followers, friends said.
She also participated in a previous Miss Canada compeition and made it to the semi-finals, her friends said.
Tanya Pardazi was studying philosophy at the University of Toronto. (Supplied)
"Tanya had an interest in anything that was new and adventurous," her childhood friend Melody Ozgoli told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday. “Life was too boring for her and she was always trying to do something adventurous."
Ozgoli said Pardazi was completing her solo course at the skydiving school and this was her first time jumping alone. According to the company, the course requires students to do one day of ground school before they can complete a solo jump.
"She really lived every second to the fullest,” Ozgoli said. "This is the biggest shock to us. It's very hard to process. It's been a couple of days, but we still don't even believe it."
Kimia Sepanlou, another close friend of Pardazi, said she was "one of the bravest girls."
"Whenever we saw her, we knew we were in for an adventure because she didn't like letting herself, or the people closest to her, get bored," she said. "Everyone who met her thought the world of her."
The incident comes a month after a 45-year-old Ottawa firefighter died in a skydiving accident at an airport in Arnprior, Ont.
Last June, a 28-year-old man also died in an accident at the Innisfil skydiving club.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cyclist issued fine for striking four-year-old girl crossing the street
A cyclist turned herself in and received a fine after striking a four-year-old girl who was crossing the street to catch a school bus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Dutch contestant kicked out of Eurovision hours before tension-plagued song contest final
The Netherlands' contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from competition hours before Saturday's final of the pan-continental pop competition, which has been rattled by protests over the participation of Israel.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
'We have no judge for you': Man's assault charges dropped weeks before trial due to lack of judges in Toronto
A man who was accused of sexually and physically assaulting a woman had his charges dropped in April, just weeks before he was set to stand trial in Toronto, due to a lack of judges in the region.
Protest encampment cleared by Edmonton police early Saturday morning
A protest encampment set up on the University of Alberta campus was cleared early Saturday morning by Edmonton police.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.
Tips to make a house or apartment safe and accessible for older adults living at home
Here's a summary of tips from the U.S. National Institute on Aging and AARP, which offers a free room-by-room guide with practical suggestions for older adults living independently.