Basejumper.com - archive

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/...d=580427&rss=yes

Base jumper survives 260-metre fall

A base jumper has been airlifted to Townsville Hospital with multiple injuries after his parachute malfunctioned on a 260-metre leap from the top of a waterfall in far-north Queensland.

A spokeswoman for Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) said the man suffered a suspected broken leg, pelvis and internal injuries after his parachute only half opened before he hit water at the base of Wallaman Falls, near Ingham, shortly before 11am (AEST) on Sunday.

"The water would have felt like concrete when he landed," the spokeswoman said.

The man was conscious as local firefighters gave him first aid before a rescue helicopter flew him to Townsville.

Heal Fast

Any who knows if it were a malfunction as the news says or if it were a lowpull?

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/...16/13943_hpnews.html

Base jumper falls 260m - and lives

JENNIFER O'REILLY

16Jun08

A BASE jumper who fell 260m off Wallaman Falls in North Queensland at the weekend was miraculously still alive after his parachute failed to open properly.

The 32-year-old man, from Mossman near Cairns, was in a critical condition at Townsville Hospital last night with suspected spinal and pelvic injuries and hypothermia.

It was understood the man, who was at the waterfall with two friends, jumped first and failed to pull his rip-cord in time for it to open properly.

He hit the freezing water at the base of the falls but incredibly managed to crawl on to a rock until his two mates, who were also base jumping off the waterfall, landed and gave him first aid until paramedics arrived.

A spokesman for Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) rescue helicopter said the man suffered trauma and internal injuries after his parachute only half opened before he hit the freezing water at the base of the falls.

Paramedics said the water would have felt like concrete when the man landed.

Ingham firefighters were at the top of the waterfall organising the rescue while a technical rescue team was sent from Townsville.

But a Queensland Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said the rescue team was turned back as the EMQ helicopter advised the situation was under control.

EMQ helicopter winch operator Garry Wybenga said the man was on top of a rock with his friends when the helicopter arrived about 11.50am.

"His parachute didn't open and he landed in some water," Mr Wybenga said. "He was conscious on the way back but in a bit of pain.

Mr Wybenga said paramedics were winched to the base of the falls and then waded to the man to administer first aid.

"It's always difficult getting in to Wallaman Falls," he said.

"There are lots of hills about, which causes a little bit of turbulence."

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said an emergency call was received about 10.30am for a male base jumper who had suffered serious trauma after a long fall.

Police are investigating because base-jumping is an offence in Queensland under the Summary Offences Act (2005).

Emergency Management Queensland helicopter rescue aircraft captain Russ Pyers said the chopper had to refuel during the rescue because of the time it took to extricate the patient.

"While we were waiting for the medical team to stablise the patient we went over to Ingham to refuel," Mr Pyers said.

"We weren't sure how long it was going to take to do the rescue.

"He was on a rock in the middle of the pool, so he was difficult to extricate."

The rescue helicopter arrived at Townsville Hospital about 2pm.

Wallaman Falls, 51km south-west of Ingham, is the highest sheer drop waterfall in Australia, at a height of 305m.

It is a popular spot for base jumpers, who leap off the falls for their extreme sport in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the general public.

There are videos on You Tube of base jumpers at the falls, including one video known as the `infamous Wallaman Falls meets' amongst the Australian base jumping community.

There have been two base jumpers seriously injured at Wallaman Falls since 2004.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council Mayor Pino Giandomenico said local authorities could do no more to warn the `adrenalin junkies' of the risks.

"It's extreme sports people from down south or overseas _ it's not locals doing this," he said.

"When they do these extreme sports they know there's a high level of risk and if they want to do it, they do it.

"But it puts a lot of stress and strain on our resources, our emergency services. I just hope that the fellow is all right."

Cr Giandomenico said base jumpers should make a donation to the emergency services if they insisted on chasing an `adrenalin rush'.

"If they are risking their lives and they are getting a helicopter, they should (donate).

"These people know what they're doing.

"I believe it's on one of the extreme sports websites advertising that you can jump off Wallaman Falls."

Mr Wybenga said the new EMQ helicopter had done at least seven rescues requiring winching in the past few weeks.

"There's been a bit of a run on them," he said.

The 32-year-old man, from Mossman near Cairns, was in a critical condition at Townsville Hospital last night with suspected spinal and pelvic injuries and hypothermia.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council Mayor Pino Giandomenico said local authorities could do no more to warn the `adrenalin junkies' of the risks.

"It's extreme sports people from down south or overseas _ it's not locals doing this," he said.


The interesting thing here is that Mossman is north of the jumpsite. Once again the press can't let the truth get in the way of a good story!

Could someone please PM me a name, saw a fuzzy picture of the person on one of the news sights and it looked like someone I know. Couldn't be certain though.

Well here is my contributions: I spent several years volunteering for the State Emergency Service, St Vincent de Paul Youth Programs, helped drug addicted youth in Sydney, etc.

As far as donations to emergency services: I have donated to organisations like Childflight, Angel Flight, several Helicopter Rescue Services, and the biggie of them all - I PAY TAXES.

Whenever I have made my sacrifices for others as above, I don't complain about tying up resources and I don't expect anything in return, etc. I try to save or improve other people's lives. It's called being a good samaritan, a Human Being, a contributor to society. It is not a business transaction.

Many a time, my contribution has been used in a way that I am not happy with. I don't like smoking, many foreign policy decisions, dole bludgers, etc. Yet my resources are tied up with these situations. Perhaps I should be compensated for those???

If cost recovery is the main focus of Governments, then what is the point of community organisations? By definition a self centred or inwardly focused culture is being created.

Exactly what benefit is there in the government criminalising an activity such as BASE jumping? An extensive Decision Analysis on this would produce some interesting results. The other factor that is disappointing is that the decision to criminalise is based on incidents without due process and consideration given to the other side of the equation - i.e. successful participation in the activity.

The decision is made because they know that there are insufficient resources to fight the decision.


Having said all of that - BASE jumpers need to think clearly about their own responsibilities and accountabilities to themselves, their mates & families, the sport, and the general community. We should have the right to jump. But we should also respect the sites we jump from and the communities we jump in. This means putting some effort in risk management and being responsible participants.

Low pulls at Wallaman are OK. But Russian Roulette (excessivley low pulls) is not OK. People have already proved what the consequences can be. You have to draw the line and the less experience and skill you have, the higher the line is.

One final note on "tying up resources". One thing I can never understand about that statement is this: what would the rescue resource be doing in lieu of a extreme sports rescue? A road accident rescue (fatigue, speeding, dui, etc), a domestic violence rescue, a farming injury (electrocution, crush under tractor, etc), etc. The absolute majority of rescues are undertaken because at some stage a person has made one or a series of poor decions. Are they not "unecessarily tying up resources as well? Should they not contribute in that case? Why have charities? Lets make everything user pays.

Well there goes the spirit of humanity, the spirit of discovery, the freedom for people to express themselves in a way that inspires others.

Great guy, bad luck...Heal fast!

 
"According to Queensland Parks and Wildlife [Wallaman Falls] is a part of [BASE jumpers'] culture. It's a really revered place to do it because it is the highest free-falling waterfall in Australia."


Constable Rayner said the injured jumper pulled his parachute cord too late for it to inflate fully.


"It's my understanding that he fell into water. Witnesses reckon he managed to paddle to the shore but wasn't able to get out of the water," he said.


It was three hours before the man, also suffering hypothermia, was taken from the national park in the EMQ Rescue helicopter, he said.


Queensland Parks and Wildlife senior ranger Ross Dowmin said BASE jumping was strictly forbidden at Wallaman Falls. He declined to say whether he thought the injured man deserved to be charged.


"It is a restricted access area and it's not for BASE jumping," he said of the location.

Any news on how Hamish is doing?

Bump... Any word?

Here you go
http://www.news.com.au/...4004875-3102,00.html

Steve