Two skydivers died after their parachute malfunctioned on Thursday evening, Nephi police said. 

The two — instructor and client — were jumping tandem from a Cessna 182 plane near the Nephi City airport at 6:30 p.m., according to a new release from police. 

Both skydivers, 35-year-old instructor Serena Whelchel, of California, and 41-year-old Wendi Gabaldon, of Tooele, were taken to the Central Valley Medical Center, where they were declared dead, the release stated. 

The two were jumping with Skydive the Wasatch, police said. The company is based at the airport in Nephi, according to its website, and regards safety as its ”first priority.”

The website says the company ”strictly” adheres to Federal Aviation Administration requirements for parachute safety and guidelines from the United States Parachute Association.

”If the first [main] canopy malfunctions, another one is waiting to take its place,” the website says. ”Skydive the Wasatch ensures that all reserve parachutes are inspected and re-packed every 180 days by an FAA-certified parachute rigger, whether or not they’ve been used.”

The company said in the release that it was working with local authorities conducting an investigation on the deaths.

“Our sincerest condolences go out to both families,” the company release said. Skydive the Wasatch did not respond to requests for additional comment Friday afternoon.

Nephi police told KUTV that the parachute failed to open and the backup chute didn't slow Whelchel and Gabaldon’s descent enough to survive.