FATALITY in Switzerland / BASE-jumping suspended

[guest]

bad news from Switzerland...

Monday, 2nd April 2001, an experienced belgian jumper died while BASE-jumping in Switzerland. During a 3-way with another belgian and a french jumper, he impacted the wall probably during opening sequence. Aperently, he was back-tracking and might lost awareness of altitude. The Air-Glacier-Doctor reached him 15 min. later by helicopter, but the jumper was dead already.

This fatal accident and the helicopter-rescue (sunday 1st of April) within 2 days are too much for this little valley. TV-Channels and Newspapers are strongly covering those events and legal BASE-jumping in Switzerland is in danger.

In accordance with the local organisations, we are asking everybody NOT TO BASE-JUMP IN THE BERNER OBERLAND (area Interlaken & Meiringen) UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH APRIL !!! To all foreign jumpers who had plans to come (on easter f.ex.), please cancel your trip to Switzerland.
(please spread the word)

This is a serious issue, we need the help of the whole BASE-community to keep the area legal. If we don't follow this suspension of jumping, we might have a Yosemite-Situation here as well...

the Swiss BASE Association

[MT]

Any information on the jumper or the party he was jumping with? What about the jumpers experience level?

Condolences to the family & friends of whoever this is.

[guest]

Is there any word on jumping in Switzerland after April? I had been planning on a visit in early July. Will this still be possible, or should I be rethinking my travel plans?

Can you post more information about the future here, or email me privately, when you know more?

Thanks,

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[guest]

Hey Tom

I think there shouldn't be any problem. The Swiss BASE Association wants no jumping for the month of April, just to cool down everything a little bit. We want to keep Lauterbrunnen legal. After April there's no problem. You can also contact the SBA at www.subterminal.ch for any questions.

Marco