Man dies BASE jumping after falling over 600 feet when parachute fails to fully open
A Washington state BASE jumper died Sunday after an issue with his parachute and falling over 600 feet to the ground, authorities announced.
The man, 47-year-old Elliot Barstow, was BASE jumping Sunday in Chelan County, about 142 miles east of Seattle, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said in a social media post.
According to the sheriff’s office, someone called for help around 8:42 a.m. The office said the man was BASE jumping near Milepost 202 on Highway 97A when his parachute failed to fully open.
According to witnesses, the man spun 180 degrees, hit a rock wall, and then fell 650 feet to the ground. Emergency responders showed up, but Barstow was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Barstow during this incredibly difficult time,” the Chelan County Sheriff's Office wrote.
What is BASE jumping?
BASE jumping occurs when individuals with parachutes jump from a fixed point instead of an airplane, according to California-based skydiving company Skydive Perris.
According to the company, BASE stands for the fixed object BASE jumpers jump from, including:
- B – Building
- A – Antenna
- S – Span (such as a bridge)
- E – Earth (such as a cliff)
According to Skydive Perris, the equipment jumpers use to skydive and BASE jump differs as well. Skydiving and BASE jumping equipment, called rigs, do not have the same number of parachutes.
“BASE jumping rigs only have one parachute, compared to the two that are in a skydiving rig,” the company said on its website. “If something goes wrong with the one, the only chance a BASE jumper has for a safe landing is to hope the issue is fixable in the very limited time before meeting the ground.”
The company also said skydiving rigs have a computer called an Automatic Activation Device (AAD), which deploys the reserve parachute if the skydiver doesn’t deploy it manually.
“There’s nothing like that on a BASE rig,” the company said. “You’re on your own.”
Battle over BASE jumping
BASE jumping has been a point of contention for recreationalists and the National Park Service.
According to a February 2024 memo from the United States Department of the Interior, the National Park Service has no specific regulation for BASE jumping. However, in section 8.2.2.7 of the service’s management policies, BASE jumping is allowed by permit “after it is determined to be an appropriate activity through a park planning process.”
In February of this year, the New Civil Liberties Alliance or NCLA filed a complaint challenging the service’s right to make and enforce laws banning the sport.
“As relevant to this case, NPS effectively criminalized an entire sport—BASE jumping—without clear direction from Congress, the only branch authorized to make criminal law,” the NCLA wrote.
According to the NCLA, the individuals the agency represents want to be able to legally BASE jump at national parks because national parks have “many of the safest and most naturally stunning places in the country for the sport.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on Paste BN's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.