Basejumper.com - archive

Just read on the news (no first hand info)
http://www.20min.ch/...uisse/story/28549733
Swiss 25 year old male jumper
Exit from La Mousse

this police report

http://www.police.be.ch/...toedlichverunglueckt

says it was from yellow ocean, happening around 11.45am

:(

This case... not for first time as i know:(

From reading the BFL, it appears the jumper reached through the compression cord of the rig during deployment. Anyone have an idea what rig he was using? Also curious as to if this is a common placement of the compression cord on other rigs. I would think having possible snag hazards anywhere near the PC to be a bad idea.

Disclaimer- I'm not a BASE jumper, and have skydived very infrequently over the last few years.... just trying to always learn and expand my knowledge base.

ETA- After closer reading, I realized the compression cord was part of the stash bag, my apologies for the confusion. I would guess the cord came free in the worst possible place.

No, read again slowly !

Apologies.... I realized my mistake prior to your post. I've never seen a rig up close, but noticed most newer models offer a pocket for a stash bag. Just trying to visualize how this might have occurred.

Some rigs have a stashbag pocket that is open at the top end (between shoulders) and an opening down by the PC for which I assume is for easy access to the bag after an utban jump.

Understood.... thank you for the info. Seems to be, at least in part, terrible luck!

It's also probably due to not doing enough research about BASE incidents. It sounds like exactly the same thing as happened about 4 or 5 years ago in Norway. People use different methods to stash their stash bag before the jump but I always turn my stash bag inside out before putting it in the pocket for this very reason.
Sadly it sounds like this jumper just may not have read the BFL. An easily preventable death. :(

While proper care and attention to gear by the jumper should have prevented that happening - why on earth does any Base manufacturer who is even remotely familiar with Murphy's Law put a stash bag pocket on with the opening on the right hand side?

It's like daring someone to fuck it up and kill themselves

My thoughts exactly!

It is clear IMHO from this discussion, That if one cant stash the stash bag safely,´and Stow the brakes properly, One should not jump BASE. Or jump anything. Is this a wrong opinion?
Take care,
space

The reason is for urban jumps, and a fast getaway. You don't have to have the pocket - and you don't have to use it: I always preferred wearing it under my tracking suit / wingsuit to minimise bulk. Especially on La Mousse, you have all the time you want to prepare - and to de-rig after landing.

Yeah Rich, I know why there's a pocket I was wondering why anyone would design a pocket with the opening in a place that would make this entanglement possible.

(Unless they didn't, and he'd somehow managed to have the loop sticking out from under his jacket.)

Are you saying that a right handed jumper will find it easier/faster to pull the bag out of the right hand side of the back pad?

I can't believe that putting the pocket on the side opposite the BOC would make it substantially slower to access than putting it on the same side as the BOC. The increase in speed doesn't seem worth the (admittedly small--but it's already been fatal) increase in entanglement risk.

Not trying to tell anyone how to suck eggs. It was just the explanation given to me when I asked a manufacturer (can't recall when or whom).

I never liked it, hence always "wore" my sack under my jacket / wingsuit.

I have had a skydive reserve ride with a jacket I also used to use while base jumping. Pulled the PC through a compression cord loop, and it of course tangled with the PC. On a skydive a problem that can be solved, on a basejump not so easy... Be careful with all possible straps/cords coming out.

V