An Italian thrill-seeker tragically live broadcasted his own demise after he engaged in a BASE jump from Kandersteg in the Swiss Alps. Identified as Armin Schmieder, aged 28, the man took the fatal plunge from the peak situated in the Dolomites mountain range.
Before the incident, footage captured Armin suiting up in a red and blue wingsuit against a picturesque blue sky backdrop. With a pair of sunglasses and a helmet, he prepared for the jump, smiling at the camera multiple times during the process.
Upon finalizing his readiness, Armin raised the camera to showcase the breathtaking mountain views and the cliff edge ahead of him. The last clear footage of him, as reported by The Independent, displayed him waving goodbye before seemingly securing the recording device in his pocket.
During the live stream, Armin was heard saying, “Today you fly with me.” Subsequently, he placed the camera in his pocket, and the video continued for about three and a half minutes, featuring his countdown from three to one and his apparent takeoff.
Audiences could hear the sound of Armin flying through the air for approximately 25 seconds before the audio went silent. Panic ensued among Armin’s family members as they desperately tried to understand the situation.
BASE jumping, an extreme sport involving parachuting or wingsuit flying from fixed structures or cliffs, is widely considered one of the riskiest recreational activities globally. The acronym BASE stands for Buildings, Antennas (referring to radio masts), Spans (bridges), and Earth (cliffs), representing the launch points for jumpers. Due to the lower altitudes involved, BASE jumping has a fatality and injury rate significantly higher than traditional skydiving from aircraft.
Since 1981, there have been over 450 documented BASE jumping fatalities, as recorded by the BASE-jumping publication Blinc. In a tragic coincidence, another BASE jumper, Uli Emanuele, also met his demise in a separate incident in the Dolomite mountains around the same time as Armin’s death.
Some jurisdictions worldwide have prohibited BASE jumping due to its extreme danger. In certain instances, such as jumps from buildings or antennas, participants may engage in the activity clandestinely without permission, potentially leading to legal consequences like trespassing.
Regulations and attitudes toward BASE jumping vary widely across different regions. While some locations like Norway’s Kjerag mountain welcome base jumpers, others such as the Europabruecke bridge near Innsbruck, Austria, have enforced bans. Australia, known for its stringent stance on BASE jumping, specifically prohibits the activity from landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge.