New Mexico Injury
Woke up to this in the Albuquerque Newspaper this morning. I wonder what this is going to cost him.
And its not a suspension bridge.
http://www.abqjournal.com/north/317057north_news03-07-05.htm
Monday, March 7, 2005
Colo. Man Injured in Parachute Jump
By Laura Banish
Journal Staff Writer
A 21-year-old man suffered serious leg injuries after his parachute opened late after jumping off the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge— one of the highest suspension bridges in the federal highway system— early Sunday morning, according to New Mexico State Police.
Robert Walking of Crested Butte, Colo., was taken to St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe where his injuries were "less than life-threatening," Lt. Jimmy Glascock said.
Walking jumped off the bridge, situated more than 650 feet above the Rio Grande, around 6:30 a.m., police said.
He may have been participating in a sport called BASE jumping, which involves launching from fixed points while wearing a parachute. BASE stands for building, antennae, span and earth.
It took several hours to locate the young man. Search and rescue teams were dispatched, although a New Mexico National Guard helicopter was ultimately used to pull the man from the bottom of the gorge, Glascock said.
Later Sunday, St. Vincent spokesman Don Butterfield confirmed Walking was still a patient at the hospital but said he could not provide information about his condition because of federal privacy laws.
Several family members were present at the time of the incident, Glascock said.
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is located about 10 miles west of Taos on U.S. 64.
Copyright 2005 Albuquerque Journal
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