Basejumper.com - archive

Incidents

Shortcut
Fatality Pedra Gavea, Brazil, 24/07/2015
Fernando Goncalves died at Pedra Gavea near Rio on 24th July.
Having successfully jumped the normal wingsuit exit the day before, he chose to jump an uncharted exit, that experienced locals will not jump, with a rockdrop of some 60m (estimate).
He impacted below exit and died instantly. The exact technical cause is not yet known, but this exit is 0 margin.

Fernando was widely adored, a smiling, vibrant, positive member of the SoCal jumping and wider community, a fierce lover of the sport, a friend and mentor to many, and a regular and successful competitor in Wingsuit BASE races.

Friends have started a GoFundMe campaign to get his body home, and to support his family, including his daughter of 15, of very modest means. It's going well, but any and all help is very much appreciated.
http://www.gofundme.com/4va27s26xk

Flee free irmãozinho..Frown
Shortcut
Re: [Fbwsol] Fatality Pedra Gavea, Brazil, 24/07/2015
Fernando was a great guy, very sad to see that this might have been just a really bad judgement call. Rumors that he though it was a 4 second rock drop and was comfortable with that. Those that push the limits tend to find them. Rip buddy.
Shortcut
Re: [hjumper33] Fatality Pedra Gavea, Brazil, 24/07/2015
This might add more merit to bringing a rangefinder on jumps with you, especially if the jump is new to you, if you are not 100% sure of the starts terrain profile, if it is within your abilities or your source isn't reliable.

Too many times I have heard, 'I'll jump anything that is a 7s rock drop', as if it's a magic number - with no mention to the specific profile (or a specific vertical height in m/ft), footing on exit, ledges that you need to clear, slope of the talus, mandatory turns, etc. Knowing your specific limits, instead of going off someone saying "It's a 6s rock drop, but you got it, bro!". And understanding the vertical difference between rock drops, ex: 6 & 7s rock drop difference is ~ 150 ft. (Not saying this applies to this specific incident, Fernando was very capable, but more to object/exit point selection in general).

I have great memories hiking to exit points in France with Fernando and his hiking poles, him yelling "If my legs were longer I'd be ahead of you!!!". Thanks for those and many more.