Top BASE jumper killed in 'tragic wingsuit accident' in China
One of the 'world’s most popular and talented' BASE-jumpers has died after attempting a jump in China, state media reported.
Canadian Graham Dickinson is the latest fatality in the extreme sport that involves leaping from a plane or mountain while wearing a bodysuit with wings.
The 28-year-old's body was found on Thursday on a cliff in the Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park in the central province of Hunan, Xinhua news agency reported Friday.
The region is renowned for its impressive sandstone pillars and attracts many wingsuit enthusiasts. Hungarian wingsuit jumper Victor Kovats died in the same national park in 2013.
Dickinson, who finished third in the 2016 World Wingsuit League China Grand Prix at Tianmen Mountain, had been given permission to train in the area earlier this month.
He was reported missing Wednesday after he failed to return from a jump, the World Wingsuit League (WWL) said on its Facebook page.
“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we must announce that 2016 WWL China Grand Prix Bronze medalist Graham Dickson has passed away in, yet another tragic wingsuit accident,” the WWL posted.
“Graham represented the most cutting edge in proximity wingsuit flying and his name became synonymous for dangerous and challenging wingsuit lines.
“Graham was well known, not only as one of the world’s most popular, talented and active BASE-jumpers, but also, as a serious risk taker who was willing to put everything in the line to pursuit [sic] his dreams,” the post read.
Dickinson recorded a total of 2,250 base jumps in his life, the WWL said.
The average wingsuit flight lasts barely a minute and within eight seconds, the jumper reaches speeds of 200 kilometres per hour.
Dozens of jumpers reportedly died last year.
