Australian BASE jumper dies in Italian Dolomites crash after parachute fails to open
A 42-year-old Australian BASE jumper has died in a suspected accident in the Italian Dolomites, news agency ANSA reports.
The man reportedly crashed on Wednesday after jumping from a prominent rocky peak in the Dolomites near the South Tyrolean border, the Sass Pordoi.
Investigators suspect that the parachute didn’t open in time due to a technical issue, the news agency said, citing initial findings.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.BASE jumping refers to the extreme sport of jumping off elevated fixed objects using parachutes or wingsuits, with the word an acronym for building, antenna, span and earth.
According to ANSA, the man hit the ground around 400 metres away from the intended landing site.
The group of fellow Australians he was with alerted the rescue services. A mountain rescue team and a helicopter were deployed.
BASE jumping is illegal in Australia, specifically in national parks and on private property without permission.
The death comes after several Australians also died BASE jumping in Italy over the last decade.
West Australian Ben Dummett died in 2017 when he hit a mountain in Italy’s Trento region.
The 25-year-old was known as an adventurous daredevil who had done more than 300 BASE-jumps and 900 skydives.
In 2022, Australian Matthew Munting, 35, died when he hit a gully in the Italian Alps.
