WENATCHEE, Washington — A tragic accident in Washington state claimed the life of a man on Sunday during a BASE jumping excursion near Entiat. The incident occurred when the 47-year-old individual’s parachute did not deploy correctly, causing him to hit a cliff.
According to the Chelan County Sheriff’s office, the fatal accident happened on Sunday morning as the man was engaged in BASE jumping, an activity known for its high risk, which involves leaping from fixed locations such as cliffs, bridges, and tall structures.
Witnesses on the scene reported that the man’s parachute failed to open adequately, leading him to spin uncontrollably and crash into a rock face. He then plummeted approximately 650 feet (around 200 meters) to the ground, where he succumbed to his injuries. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the site.
This incident brings to mind a similar tragedy that occurred last year at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. In that case, a high-risk BASE jump attempted at Yavapai Point also ended in a fatal outcome.