A tragic incident occurred at Grand Canyon National Park this week when a man attempting to base jump from Yavapai Point plummeted to his death. The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received reports of the incident and dispatched officers to the scene on Thursday morning.
Rangers found the man deceased 500 feet below the South Rim with a deployed parachute. Recovery operations took place on Friday morning, with the victim's body airlifted by a helicopter to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office for further examination.
The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office is currently working to determine the cause of death, while the National Park Service and local authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident.
Base jumping is an extreme sport where individuals jump from high-altitude locations and use parachutes to descend safely. The term 'BASE' stands for buildings, antennas, spans, and earth, representing common jump locations.
It is important to note that base jumping is strictly prohibited in all areas of Grand Canyon National Park, as reiterated by the National Park Service following this tragic event. The identity of the deceased individual has not been disclosed by park officials pending positive identification.
