BASE jumper dies attempting illegal jump at Grand Canyon

A BASE jumper has died after attempting an illegal jump from Yavapai Point on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

Park officials said the incident happened at about 7:30am on August 1. The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report alerting them that a visitor was attempting a BASE jump at Yavapai Point.

Tragically, even though the park’s rangers responded swiftly, by the time they reached the location it was too late. They found the body of a man about 500 feet below the rim, a parachute that failed to save him lying next to him.

Recovery teams reached the site early Thursday morning to recover the body, which was airlifted to the rim by helicopter, then transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and further investigation.

BASE jumping, an extreme sport involving parachuting from fixed objects, is strictly prohibited throughout Grand Canyon National Park. The acronym BASE comes from the four fixed objects the jumpers most often jump from: Buildings, Antennas, Spans (aka, bridges) and Earth (aka, rock formations).

Park officials emphasize the importance of visitor safety, urging guests to stay on designated trails and maintain a safe distance from the rim’s edge.

Joelle Baird, a Grand Canyon National Park public affairs officer, said that the park sees about 10-15 deaths per year on average.

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