A 33-year-old British man died Wednesday, September 4, 2024, while base jumping in the Italian Dolomites, marking the fourth such fatality in the area this summer. 

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. local time when the man, wearing a wingsuit, leaped from a cliff edge approximately 6,000 feet high near the Pala di San Lucano, close to Belluno, Italy.

The victim was base jumping with two companions, a French national and a German national, who raised the alarm when he failed to arrive at their designated landing site. Local authorities launched a search and rescue operation that lasted over four hours, utilizing drones and a helicopter to locate and recover the body.

Diego Favero of the Agordo-based mountain rescue team told reporters, “It was a difficult operation and it took several hours before we were able to locate and recover the body.” The search effort was aided by GoPro footage provided by the other two base jumpers, which helped rescuers pinpoint the location of the fallen man.

The victim’s body was discovered in heavy undergrowth about 262 feet from his initial jump point. He was subsequently airlifted to a local mortuary. Authorities plan to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The Pala di San Lucano area, known for its towering cliffs and stunning vistas, has become a popular destination for extreme sports enthusiasts, particularly those engaged in base jumping and wingsuit flying.

Favero noted that this was the second base-jumping accident in the region just in September.

Base jumping, an acronym for Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth, involves parachuting from fixed objects rather than aircraft. Wingsuit flying, often combined with base jumping, uses a special jumpsuit designed to add surface area to the human body, enabling a significant increase in lift.

The sport has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, but this increase has been accompanied by a rise in accidents and fatalities. According to a study cited by Life in the Fast Lane, between 1981 and 2011, there were 180 BASE jumping fatalities, with 39 involving wingsuits. The proportion of BASE jumping deaths involving wingsuits increased from 16% in 2002-2007 to 49% in 2008-2011.

The increased risks associated with wingsuit base jumping are not just due to the influx of new participants. Even experienced jumpers are pushing the boundaries of the sport, often in situations with little room for error.

Despite the risks, many thrill-seekers continue to be drawn to the sport. The magical experience of flight and the adrenaline rush keep enthusiasts coming back, even in the face of potential danger.

However, the sport still faces challenges, including a lack of regulations and oversight. Some regions, such as Chamonix, France, have implemented temporary bans on BASE jumping, while some countries, like Norway, are considering similar measures.

In a similar incident, on August 9, 2024, an experienced 41-year-old base jumper from Montichiari, Brescia, named Ludovico Vanoli, met with a fatal accident while wingsuit flying in the Dolomites. The incident took place in the vicinity of the Capanna Trieste refuge in Taibon Agordino, Veneto. Reports suggest that Vanoli collided with a rocky outcropping during his descent.

Rescue teams promptly initiated a search operation, but unfortunately discovered Vanoli’s body without signs of life several hours later. Besides his passion for extreme sports, Vanoli worked as an instructor for wakeboarding and snowboarding. He is survived by his spouse and two young kids.

This tragic event occurred shortly after another base jumper, Raian Kamel, lost his life in similar circumstances just days before.