# North Carolina woman survives 14,500-foot fall, over 200 fire-ant stings 2026-08-14T09:05:37+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet In September 1999, Joan Murray, a 47-year-old Bank of America executive from North Carolina, survived a skydiving accident from about 14,500 feet. Her main parachute failed to open. Her reserve parachute deployed at only 700 feet, striking the ground at around 80 mph. She landed on a mound of fire ants and suffered over 200 stings. Doctors believed the stings may have helped her survive, though the claim has not been proven. Murray spent 15 days in a coma and underwent extensive surgery for multiple fractures, a collapsed lung, and other injuries. She eventually returned to skydiving in 2004, calling it closure. The survival remains remarkable, with the role of fire ants still a theory. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: fire ants, Joan Murray, North Carolina, skydiving accident, survival Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/north-carolina-woman-survives-14500-foot-fall-over-200-fire-ant-stings/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/north-carolina-woman-survives-14500-foot-fall-over-200-fire-ant-stings/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.