Missing base jumper Leonardo Durant shared heart-stopping video in final post before fatal leap off towering 12k-ft peak

A BASE jumper who frequently posted on social media about his exploits has been found dead.

Leonardo Durant had been missing since August 31 when he attempted a jump off California’s Mount Morrison near Yosemite National Park.

INSTAGRAM/MACHGZUS

Instagram/machgzus

Instagram/machgzus

In May, the experienced jumper shared a shocking video showing a jump from a mountain in South Africa where he discusses difficulties with his wingsuit.

“Poised. Dropping in. Catching that perfect angle,” he captioned the video.

“The wingsuit start can be a tricky thing. Unforgiving of flaws. But rewarding when nailed.”

Durant tagged Base Jump Africa and included an onslaught of hashtags promoting base jumping and South Africa.

The seasoned base jumper was reported missing by his base jumping partner after attempting to jump off the 12,241-foot peak, which prompted the Mono County Sheriff’s Office to deploy its search and rescue team.

A helicopter search crew found Durant’s body on a craggy slope of the mountain and recovered his body a few days later with the help of Yosemite Search and Rescue.

“A recovery mission began on September 2, 2024. The team successfully recovered Durant’s body from Mount Morrison and transferred him to the Coroner’s Office.”

The sheriff’s department ended the post by thanking those who helped with the rescue and reminding others about the dangers of base jumping.

“Missions like these highlight the incredible cooperation of agencies in the Sierra…BASE (Building, Antennae, Spans, Earth) Jumping is the sport of jumping with a parachute from a fixed object, such as a cliff or bridge. Durant was an experienced BASE jumper who used a ‘wing suit; in his jumps.

“Our sincerest condolences to Mr. Durant’s family and friends.”

The department shared an image of the daunting mountain with a search and rescue helicopter flying in front of it.

Commenters shared their condolences and heartbreak for the loss.

“Heartbreaking. Thank you all you did to recover his body. Praying for his loved ones. May his memory be a blessing,” one woman wrote.

BIG DREAMS

Durant had made his love for the activity known, especially on social media .

The jumpers posted on Instagram last year a photo of him at the World Skydiving Championships showing off his wingsuit.

“Wingsuit Performance competition is a sub-discipline in skydiving that measures the power, speed, and efficiency of a wingsuit and its pilot. Across 3 separate categories, competitors jockey for who can fly furthest, fastest, and longest,” he wrote.

“This year I have the privilege of competing in my first @skydiveuspa National Wingsuit Performance Championship. The field consists of an elite crop of pilots including current and former world/national champions and I am beyond excited for the opportunity to compete among them.

“Imagine exiting an aircraft diving like a missile 90° to the ground, generating as much energy as possible to then transfer every last ounce of it into forward flight sometimes at the ragged edge of control, and all within a precise competition window.

My goal is to give all that I have, continue improving, and hopefully qualify for next year’s World Championships.”

Durant went on to praise his wingsuit and boast about its capabilities.

“Easily the most impressive platform I’ve ever flown in the mountains and now my trusted blade on this field of battle.

“The smile on my face says it all. All the best to everyone.”