Basejumper.com - archive

The Denver Post reported the following at 1622 hrs on 22jul09:

RIFLE, Colo.—Emergency responders say a parachute jumper was injured when the parachute failed to open during a leap from a western Colorado rock formation.

Rifle Deputy Fire Chief Chad Harris says the jumper fell from XXXXX XXXXX near Rifle on Wednesday.

The nature and extent of the victim's injures weren't known, and it wasn't clear how far the jumper fell.

No names have been released.

Harris says it took emergency medical technicians 30 to 45 minutes to reach the person.

Rifle is about 140 miles west of Denver.

= = = =

talked to a reporter from a local paper who is covering the story.

Rescuers say the jumper was alert throughout the rescue, and complained of abdominal pain, and some other injuries, but there seems to be no serious orthopedic damage or life-threatening injuries (although that abdominal pain thing could get sketchy if they don't get him to a hospital fairly soon).

Technical details are not yet known, but it's a 500-foot-ish vertical wall with a very long talus slope.

MY BAD, it was the ARMY guard that flew him out. Hope no one got soaped for that one.

Actualy, the cliff in question is 1000'. Ted fell 1000' and his parachute failed to open. The EMTs took a mere 30min to reach him. The rescue was very technical.



But seriously, the clliff is 800' ish, with 2000' of talus. (trust me, I climbed it).
The parachute opened. But the cliff had shrunk. No EMTs ever showed up, but me and my best friend got to him in 20 or 30 min. The ARMY guard brought in the big guns, (3 of them) and blackhawked his ass out of there on a grapling hook.

The actual story is much better than that, but I am not at liberty to divulge just yet.


That said, my main man Ted, our gc, myself and the other jumper were more prepared than most can say, gps of location, 2 spot emergency transmitters, 4 good radios and cell phones, 3 different kinds of alpine rescue insurance, and nearly full cooperation with the SAR team.
Ted will be released tomorrow, in high spirits, with soft tissue injuries.
More may be provided with the consent of the injured, and even more maybe. Long story.


Also, I would like to thank the rifle SAR, FD, and police as well as the ARMY guard crew for their efforts, good guys all. Mad heli skills you guys have thank you.

Also, whoever came down the line to us, the fun o meter was pegged for sure

 
If your gonna be dumb its best to be prepared

Nice work boys!!!!

No... If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough!

"have you seen my baseball"?

i think I saw it this morning sitting right on the edge of Exit #2

i knew it was there. danggit!
4.5 is next for you...

ahh man! you guys were having so much fun out there. good thing that is a soft talus. had to figure one of you dip shits would low pull off your 800 foot tracking jump one of these days.

It is so strange to hear that Ted crashed. He never crashes. This is just mind boggling. How could this have happened?

I'd have to say this is a first for Ted. I've never seen him low pull before or crash. Just like I've never crashed ever!! Heal up buddy!!

Anyone care to comment on what happened, low pull? Couldn't out fly the talus? A mal of some sorts? Not that important, just curious.

Hecker explained perfectly... the cliff shrunk.

Ive seen 5 angles of a lot of the jumps done out there, so I know theres got to be some interesting video of this one.

Yer funny! Tell Ted to heal up quick and stock up on the painkillers. What's the use of getting smashed up without ALOT of extra painkillers?

I just heard a promo for NBC's Today show. sounds like they will be interviewing the jumper on Saturday's show. they already showed clips of the jump.

ps
the segment just aired (on my local station). good job. not much sensationalism. well spoken jumper. a ton of interviewer incredulity!

nice mention of all the safety gear including full body armor.

heal fast!

Ted is da man!!! Way to play it cool on tv buddy. Glad your pulling through relatively unharmed. Till then.

I just watched it online, well played to him.

there is a lot of ignorant people on the internet talking smack about the cost of the rescue going to taxpayers. (i don't know how these idiots got on the internet, it's not like they let anyone use it)

Ted had MANY different kinds of health and rescue insurance.


Ted was VERY prepared. VERY cooperative. more than can be said about most people in back country or even on the road.

http://vids.myspace.com/...amp;VideoID=61033044

Nice job! Way to not sound like an idiot!

Its rare i ever read of a rescue and people dont talk like that, usually arm chair jumpers. Water off a ducks back i say.

wowzer bowzers! close call ted!

i was talking about non-jumpers, the general public comments on the news sites.

Ted put a very cool post up on his website. http://www.teddavenport.com Well spoken, nice work Ted.

+1

nice interview, shitty landing, but that definitely falls under category of "good publicity" in my opinion.

Nice work on the interview. Very well done.

Indeed, How does this stuff make it on the news? Most people who've been around the block have seen much worse and it never winds up on the news. Do some people contact the news immediately after this happens?

This was a somewhat elaborate helicopter rescue. there were 4 Helicopters involved, and it took about 4 or 5 hours.
I assume they overheard our radio/911/scanner conversations and started asking questions.
because there was good video, NBC was interested in an interview with Ted.

I call this a win. Ted did great putting thanks to the SAR and ARMY.

Ted definitely rocked the interview.

Why so many helicopters?

Can't see the vid in germany.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...vp/32142084#32142084

this one should work outside the US...