Last week, an experienced BASE jumper was found dead near a mountaintop in Utah. Authorities said the BASE jumper did not contact friends after the jump.
The Box Elder County Sheriff's Office said Monday that the friend had not been heard from by deputies or rescuers after BASE jumping in a wingsuit near 9,763-foot Willard Peak. He said he spoke to his staff.
The friend provided critical information to sheriff's officials and rescue workers about potential jump locations and flight routes, allowing rescue teams to send a helicopter to the area, the sheriff's office said.
After a two-hour search, a Department of Public Safety helicopter located the person in “extremely rugged terrain” about a mile northwest of Willard Peak, officials said.
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The BASE jumper found dead near Willard Peak in Utah has been identified as 27-year-old Jonathan Vigilia of Alabama, authorities said. (Box Elder County Sheriff's Office)
He was pronounced dead at the scene, and a helicopter pulled his body from the mountain.
The sheriff's office identified the deceased BASE jumper as Jonathan Vigilia, a 27-year-old man from Alabama.
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“Our hearts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time,” officials said.
The Department of Public Safety's Aviation Bureau, Weber County Sheriff's Office, and Weber County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Bureau assisted in search and rescue efforts.
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BASE jumping is considered a high-risk activity. The term “BASE” is an acronym that refers to four common types of jump locations: buildings, antennas, spans, and earth.
