An Alabama thrill-seeker died in “a tragic base-jumping incident ” while cliff jumping in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, according to investigators.
The body of Jonathan Bizilia, 27, was discovered near Willard Peak, a 9,764-foot summit about a 70-mile drive north from Salt Lake City.
He was reported missing around 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, according to the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office.
“An individual reported that a friend, an experienced base jumper, failed to provide an expected update following a base jump in a wingsuit,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
“A coordinated effort was initiated to locate the individual. … Ultimately, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter located the individual around (4 p.m.) approximately 1 mile northwest of Willard Peak, in extremely rugged terrain.”
The helicopter crew recovered the body.
Investigators believe Bizilia “crashed” while jumping and died where he fell. The distance of the fall was not revealed.
Base jumping is a sport similar to skydiving, but instead of jumping from an aircraft, participants leap from lower altitude sites like buildings, antennas, bridge spans and cliffs, according to Startskydiving.com. Landing is done with the help of a parachute.