A man died after attempting an illegal BASE jump in Arizona’s Grand Canyon, officials said Friday.
The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report around 7:30 a.m. local time Thursday of a visitor who had attempted a base jump from Yavapai Point on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, the National Park Service said.
Recovery teams respond to Yavapi Point after the death of a base jumper in Grand Canyon National Park, August 2, 2024.
National Park Service/K. Punch
“Park rangers responded and located the body of a deceased male approximately 500 feet below the rim, along with a deployed parachute,” the NPS said in a statement.
The body of the BASE jumper was recovered Friday morning. The victim was airlifted to the rim and then taken to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office, which is conducting an investigation into the incident along with the NPS.
The victim’s name is being withheld pending positive identification, NPS said. No further information was released.
BASE is an acronym for building, antenna, span and ground. The recreational sport involves jumping from a fixed object and using a parachute to descend to the ground.
The “high-risk activity” is prohibited in all areas of Grand Canyon National Park, the NPS said.
The incident comes the day after a 20-year-old man accidentally fell 400 feet to his death from a scenic view of the Grand Canyon, officials said.