British base jumper dies after parachute fails to open on holiday in France
Police investigating what led to man’s fatal injuries
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A British base jumper has died after his parachute failed to open on time as he was practising the extreme sport while on holiday with friends in the south of France.
The 34-year-old man died from his injuries at Grenoble University Hospital after Tuesday’s accident, according to the Le Dauphine Libere newspaper.
The local paper reported that he had been on holiday with three friends in Millau, Aveyron.
On their way back from a day out on Tuesday, the group decided to stop by the village of Chatelus in Isere to jump off the Bournillon cliff in Bourne gorge.
One of the man’s friends activated his distress beacon just before 7pm when they did not see his parachute open.
Rescuers searched for the man by helicopter and found him unconscious and in cardiorespiratory arrest.
Two rescuers were winched as close as possible to the injured man as he dangled from his parachute, which was stuck to the cliffside, the newspaper reported.
He was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition and died from his injuries.
Police have launched an investigation to determine what caused the accident.
Base jumping consists of jumping from fixed objects and freefalling before opening a parachute to coast to the ground.
Additional reporting by Press Association
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments