Basejumper.com - archive

A fatality today in Switzerland? If my math is right that's 13 deaths in less than 2 months! I'm taking up golf

any news as to what happened?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/...-base-jumper-4298194

From http://www.police.be.ch/...toedlichverunglueckt
Grindelwald: Basejumper tödlich verunglückt

21. September 2014

Ein Basejumper ist am Samstagmittag in Grindelwald verunglückt. Der 35-jährige Mann konnte nur noch tot geborgen werden.

Der Basejumper hatte sich am Samstag, 20. September 2014, in Grindelwald gemeinsam mit zwei Kollegen in die Nähe der Glecksteinhütte begeben. Als sich der 35-Jährige um etwa 1130 Uhr von einem Felsvorsprung unterhalb der Glecksteinhütte in die Tiefe stürzte, kam es zum Unfall.

Gemäss aktuellen Erkenntnissen verlor der Basejumper in seinem Wingsuit zu rasch an Höhe. Er prallte trotz der eingeleiteten Fallschirmöffnung gegen die Felswand und verunglückte dabei.

Obwohl umgehend die Rettungskräfte alarmiert wurden, konnte vor Ort nur noch der Tod des Mannes festgestellt werden. Das Opfer wurde von der Rega ins Tal geflogen. Es handelt es sich um einen 35-jährigen chilenischen Staatsangehörigen.
Regionale Staatsanwaltschaft Oberland


Google Translate:
Grindelwald: Base Jumper fatal accident

September 21, 2014

A base jumper crashed on Saturday afternoon in Grindelwald. The 35-year-old man was found dead.

The Base Jumper had issued on Saturday, September 20, 2014 in Grindelwald, together with two colleagues near the Glecksteinhütte. When the 35-year-old from a ledge below the Glecksteinhütte fell to about 1130 clock in the depth, the accident happened.

According to current knowledge lost the base jumpers in his wingsuit to altitude quickly. He bounced despite the initiation of parachute opening against the rock wall and crashed it.

Although the emergency services were alerted immediately, the man's death could only be found on site. The victim was flown to the valley of the Rega. It is it is a 35-year-old Chilean citizens.
Regional Prosecutor Oberland

This just proves that if it can happen to Ramon, it can happen to anyone. Gutted.

To cut all speculations and rumors here i write short description what happend.
I was on the load and made 2-way with Ramon but didn't see actual accident/impact (like anyone else).

Exit on this jump is not super dificult and flight as well.
You have to clear one ledge but you can alwasy abond and flay away from it in right time to gain altitude and have more time becasue it drops to one side.
Unfurtenetly Ramon continue to fly and when he realize he will not make it over he try to fly away but was to late and pull but as well to late.
Hit ground just after opening or during and died instantly. Found 2-3 min. after by our friend which was watching jump.
We called rescue which came really fast.

The hike, day and all was OK.
There was no wind or anything else.
Condition was perfect.
Ramon did this jump few days before and flew in the same place way much higher.
He was current with his wingsuit.

Leson to learn like on many similar accident to have reference point whre you abond your line or pull. If you to low just pull or fly away and come back to repeat the jump.

It's not easy to write this and please respect Ramon.

what kind of WS was he flying? experience on ws?

A quick google, should reveal he appears to have been a highly experienced big wingsuit pilot who was current. Looking at BASE fatality list, the reaper comes to all levels, when margins for error in environment or judgement are miniscule.

He was expirence on wingsuit as i wrote above.
Type of wingsuit (manufacture, size of it etc.) is not the problem in this case.

Thanks Olek. To know what really hapenned bring some peace to us, the friends Ramon left behind. He was a very careful jumper, always looking for the best conditions and safety first of all. Was ski patrol here in Chile also for years, wich gave to him solid principles and knowledge in safety. Sadly proximity flight margin to error is too narrow, I believe we humans arent capable to make it perfect all the time, at all.

Please dont take this as bashing, I had the pleasure to meet Ramon a few weeks ago in Lauterbrunnen. Seemed like an awesome dude.

But, we as a comunity of flying people need to be a little more objective in our analysis of terrain flying mistakes. Terrain flying is extremely damgerous, we all know that. But every year more and more people want to do it...for whatever reason. The simple answer of "he was proximity flying...and messed up" is no longer a suitable explanation.

The drive will never go away, if you want to fly anywhere over or next to anything in your suit, you MUST understand the basics. Speed and power in reserve are the only way to survive in this enviroment. Just assuming your new suit and your experiences before will help you survive every new jump in europe has been proven go be a fatal error.

Again, please dont take this as bashing Ramon...but please, also understand that this will not stop and probably get worse until we start being open with our critiques and criticism of our own friends and homies.

Scotty,
You jumped that exit. You know that place.
I wrote more than what i quote from you and i think i made clear what was the mistake on this jump.

What else you would like to know???
Just write specific questions and i will try to answer.

Not aimed at you at all dude

I know.
We can try to track back what lead to last wrong decision of Ramon but at the end that one was the most important.