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Firefighter Dies in Utah BASE Jumping Accident
29 Sep
Summary
- A Salt Lake City firefighter died after his wing suit failed during a jump.
- The experienced BASE jumper fell from a 700-foot perch near Millville Canyon.
- This incident occurred months after two other BASE jumpers died in Utah.
Gabe Reilly, a 27-year-old firefighter with the Salt Lake City Fire Department, tragically died on Sunday in a BASE jumping accident. The incident occurred near Millville Canyon in northern Utah, an area known to be popular for the high-risk sport.
Authorities reported that Reilly, who had been with the department for four years, was an experienced BASE jumper. However, during this particular jump from a 700-foot elevation, his wing suit malfunctioned, preventing him from generating sufficient lift.
Emergency crews responded to the scene shortly after 9 a.m. A flight medical crew was dispatched to recover Reilly's body from the remote, mountainous terrain. The Cache County Sheriff's Office confirmed the fatal outcome, noting the high speed at which he impacted the ground.
This tragic event follows two other fatalities in southeastern Utah this past June, where two individuals lost their lives during a BASE jump in Grand County. BASE jumping involves parachuting from fixed objects and is inherently dangerous.
