A 65-year-old base jumper, tragically died while descending from a mountainside in Italy.

Mark Andrews, originally from Redruth, fell over 1,300 feet to his death on Saturday, June 3. The location of his fatal accident had previously taken the life of another British base jumper just the previous year.

Andrews was outfitted with a wingsuit and a parachute, but sadly, his parachute failed to deploy correctly. He had chosen to jump from Paganella, a popular spot for base jumping in the Italian Dolomites. A retired engineer, Andrews had been living in Bucharest, Romania, with his wife, following a period in Russia.

Despite coming to the sport later in life, Andrews had become adept at base jumping, with nearly 600 successful jumps to his name. His Facebook page is a testament to his adventurous pursuits across various European mountain ranges.

As a fellow base jumper stated, Andrews only started base jumping in 2014. Yet, in his relatively short nine-year career, he managed to leave a mark, exhibiting a fearlessness that was widely admired. He took part in base jumping events in Italy and also practiced the sport worldwide, jumping from bridges and skyscrapers.

The site where Andrews died is known for its demanding nature. The first 1,300 feet contain rock and tree ledges, followed by a sharp 4,900-foot drop. Many experienced professionals jump from this point, while others prefer a different site at Mt. Brenta, around 18.6 miles away, due to wind conditions.

Base jumping, considered to be one of the most dangerous extreme sports, involves jumping from a fixed location rather than an aircraft, a clear differentiation from skydiving. The earliest documented jump from a fixed location was in 1617.

Notably, in 1912, Frederick Law jumped from the Statue of Liberty. However, the sport has seen its share of tragedy, such as when Franz Reichelt died just two days later after a jump from the Eiffel Tower.