A champion Australian skydiver has been killed in the US while testing out a new method for the sport, with her mother saying she "died doing what she loved".

Melissa Porter, from Port Kennedy in Perth, died after the accident at the Skydive Spaceland Houston facility in Texas on June 24.

She was trying a high-risk manoeuvre called swooping when she had a hard landing and fell into water.

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Her mother Vonnie Porter said she was told to call the hospital in America before she was given the shock news.

"I said, 'I'm ringing about Mel Porter.' I said, 'She's been in a skydiving accident'," she told 9News.

"He said, 'She is dead.'

"She's my baby and she's not coming home."

Porter said her daughter "loved" the sport.

"That was her happy place. She'll forever be in the sky roaming the world now," she said.

Porter, who was also a skydiving instructor, helped set a skydiving record in Queensland earlier this year.

She was one of 23 women who jumped at Skydive Ramblers in Toogoolawah on May 6, completing the "2-point 23 way", an Australian women's total-break sequential record.

Local police yesterday confirmed friends had identified the woman as Porter. 

The Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office will work to determine Porter's cause of death.

Friends are now planning a tribute skydive to honour her.

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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed it is "providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian woman who died in the United States".

"We send our deepest condolences to the woman's family," a DFAT spokesperson added.

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A woman who was hit and killed by an SUV while trying to get help after running out of petrol has been described as "enchanting" and "loyal".

Ebony Storm Somerville, 26, died in the accident on the Kwinana Freeway south of Perth on Thursday.

A family friend, McLarty Storm, confirmed her death on a fundraising page.

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"Ebony was taken tragically so suddenly in a tragic accident where she was hit by a vehicle after walking briefly from her own car that had broken down," it said.

Her mother Debbie Wilkes was her "best friend", the fundraiser said, describing what happened as "every parent's worst nightmare".

Somerville had got out of a blue Holden Commodore after it ran out of petrol before Paganoni Road in Stake Hill.

She was trying to flag down passing cars when she was hit by a passing red Mitsubishi Outlander.

She died at the scene.

"Ebony had a warmth that touched you, a smile that could light the darkest day," the fundraiser continued.

"People felt good in her company and she naturally stole your heart, young or old, any gender, any race, you could not avoid being drawn by her magnetic energy."

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Somerville's local community in the town of Collie, 200km from Perth, is "in shock," it said.

The other woman in the car was taken to Rockingham Hospital for observation.

Experts say drivers should stay in their vehicle if they break down and call for help.

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Childhood experts are encouraging parents to swap their kids' screen time for green time.

Deakin University is undertaking world-first research, investigating how nature can help reduce difficult child behaviours associated with screen use.

PhD researcher Marina Torjinski said nature can work wonders for child development.

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Torjinski said they hoped to understand whether time in natural environments had the potential to offset the screen-related problems parents often experience with their children.

She said the research showed family experiences in nature also promoted positive parent-child interactions.

"We reviewed the existing research looking at children's screen use and engagement with nature within the family context and found that positive family experiences around nature can help shift children's intentions away from indoor screen-based activities," Torjinski said.

"On an individual level, where problematic screen use can lead to increases in stress, cognitive fatigue and behavioural problems in children, time spent in natural environments can reduce levels of physical and psychological stress, improve cognitive processes, mood, and help children regulate their emotional states and behaviours.

"It appears that excessive screen use and time in nature influence the parent-child relationship in opposite ways, however more research is needed to understand this process."

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Melbourne mum Dionne Holland and daughter Chloe, eight, have joined the study and believe it should be a fine balance.

"It's a real tricky one because iPads have their place. There are times that I need her to be on the screen when I'm trying to juggle with work," she said.

"I really try and consciously get outside, a walk, playground, anywhere really."

She said when they do get outside, it's often hard to get her daughter back inside.

"Sometimes it's a struggle to get her off the iPad, but once we are out we struggle to get back, especially if she is exploring," Holland said.

Deakin University researchers are looking for parents willing to take part in the study by completing an international parent survey.

The survey will look at how children's screen use and engagement with nature interact with family dynamics.

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Police are desperately searching streets and local walking tracks for a man who has been missing for 24 hours in Melbourne.

John, 62, was last seen visiting a relative's home on Wolseley Parade in Kensington, about 3.30pm yesterday.

Family have described his disappearance as "out of character" and are concerned for his welfare due to a medical condition.

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John's wife, Anne-Marie, said it came as a "complete suprise" when they didn't hear from him last night.

"I am really worried, we missing a father, husband, brother, uncle. We just want me back," John's wife Anne-Marie said.

"It's been cold and we don't remember the last time he ate."

Police believe John might be in the Kensington or Essendon areas and is known to frequent public transport.

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He was last seen wearing a black beanie, a black jacket with a hood and a Victoria Government logo, dark blue navy pants, light blue runners and carrying a horse feed bag to collect aluminium cans.

John is described as Caucasian, about 178cm tall, with a slim build and grey hair.

Anyone with information or who may know John's whereabouts is urged to call triple zero.

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The cold, windy weather didn’t stop hundreds of people from paying their respects.

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