The world's extreme sports community is in shock after an Australian wingsuit jumper was killed in the Swiss Alps when he crashed into the mountainside during a jump.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The jumper, believed to be a 26-year-old man from Sydney, was killed on Tuesday in the rugged region of Valais while jumping from the near summit of the 2243-metre Croix de Fer peak with another jumper. Fairfax Media has chosen not to name the jumper.
The Swiss Alps are a magnet for wingsuit divers, who wear special jumpsuits that add surface area to the body, enabling them to glide like a bird before opening a parachute like a regular ski diver.
The wingsuit jumper, understood to have been part of the Australian BASE Association, described himself on Facebook as a "professional skydiver and BASE jumper with a passion for flying and adventure", while also enjoying rock-climbing, diving, surfing, skateboarding, speedflying and snowboarding.
The World Wingsuit League (WWL) posted a tribute to the extreme sportsman, praising him for taking his "hard-core proximity flying" to the international "wingsuit scene" on Facebook and Twitter overnight.
"We are sorry to learn about the tragic death of wingsuit pilot ... Just recently, [he] had entered the international wingsuit scene by publishing videos featuring his hard-core proximity flying. Today he is gone ...Our condolences to family and friends".
Tributes have also begun flowing from ProBASE World Cup — an international competition for BASE jumpers, which wingsuit jumping is a division of — called the wingsuit jumper a "superhero of the community".
"Only a few days ago this amazing shot of [him] went around the community, causing awe and inspiration. Now [he] is gone, another up and coming Superhero of the community has left us way too early. Our deepest condolences go out to friends and family. To everyone who is still around, DON'T BE NEXT!!"
Fans and friends alike have poured their grief out on Facebook and Twitter, with messages such as: "Those who felt the taste of the skies, will never have lived in vain" and, "R.I.P Bro, fly free at the blue skies".
Australian BASE Association president Gary Cunningham said he was aware of the incident, and sadly there had been a growing number of wingsuit fatalities in the past few years.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said consular officials were providing assistance to the man's family.
With AFP
