cesslon 0 #1 April 14, 2005 A MAN is clinging to life in hospital tonight after an apparent failed BASE jump from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A 39-year-old man equipped with a parachute jumped from the public walkway on the eastern side of the bridge about 2.30am (AEST) today, police said. The injured man was treated in a boat by ambulance officers. He was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital with extensive injuries. He underwent emergency surgery and was in a critical condition, police said. "The circumstances surrounding the man's injuries are unclear and inquiries are under way by investigators by the Marine Area Command," they said. Police appealed for information about what they described as a "reported BASE jump". BASE is an acronym for the four main types of objects jumped from – buildings, antenna, spans and earth (cliffs). BASE jumping is illegal in Australia and has claimed several lives in recent years. lets hope he recovers. the walk way is 59m high, the top part is 134m if im correct. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KevinMcGuire 0 #2 April 14, 2005 Do we have a name yet? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cesslon 0 #3 April 14, 2005 nah not yet sorry. -------------------------------------------------------- A BASE jumper was fighting for his life yesterday after bungling a leap off Sydney's Harbour Bridge in the dead of night. The illegal thrill-seeker strolled to the eastern side of the bridge and jumped, with a parachute, from the public walkway at 2.30am yesterday. But something went wrong as he plummeted about 70m to the water, seriously injuring himself. Police were unsure yesterday whether the 39-year-old's equipment failed and are waiting for his condition to improve before interviewing him. The man was found floating unconscious and was picked up by a boat cruising past. He was treated by paramedics on the boat, before being taken to Royal North Shore hospital suffering extensive injuries from the impact. He underwent surgery and was in a critical condition last night. It is the latest in a series of base jumps around Sydney that have concerned authorities. Motorists crossing the Cammeray Bridge at Northbridge were horrified to see a man climb on to the edge and hurl himself off, last week. A police spokesman said security guards patrolling the bridge at the time the man jumped were being interviewed last night. Police would not confirm if the man was jumping alone but said they were making enquiries about gathering CCTV footage from New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority cameras installed on the bridge. ------------------------------------------------ will let ya know if I hear of a name basejump.org would probably be the best place to find out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tyrion 0 #4 April 15, 2005 The ABA are investigating the media allegations. Check http://www.basejump.org for updates as they find them out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TVPB 0 #5 April 15, 2005 Just for your information. The line "BASE jumping is illegal in Australia and has claimed several lives in recent years". was changed to "BASE jumpers should get permission to jump from buildings or structures such as the bridge". This resulted from an email I sent to the reporter, Jano Gibson and was changed very soon after he got the email. Well done to Jano. A positive result from the media for that particular component of the story. The story is at: http://www.smh.com.au/ ------------------------------------ Harbour Bridge BASE jumper critical By Jano Gibson and AAP April 14, 2005 Page Tools Email to a friend Printer format The public walkway on the Harbour Bridge ... where the man jumped. Photo: Jano Gibson Related BASE jumping action A 39-year-old man is in critical condition in Royal North Shore Hospital after BASE jumping off the Harbour Bridge in the dead of night. Police said a 39-year-old man jumped from the public walkway on the eastern side of the bridge about 2.30am (AEST), Thursday. Inspector Glenn Finniss, crime manager of the water police, said police initially had no idea that a BASE jump had caused the man's injuries. Ambulance officers had received a call claiming the injured man had been hit by a boat. But when he was examined at hospital doctors discovered his injuries were consistent with that of someone who had fallen from a great height. ``Once they can get X-rays they can see there's more to it than being hit by a boat,'' NSW Ambulance spokesman, Craig Watkins, said. Inspector Finniss said the man received extensive injuries to his spine and pelvis as well as internal injuries. He said Harbour Bridge security guards had seen a BASE jumper leap from the bridge and then be hauled into a small runabout boat directly below. The boat, with four people on board, then sped to Blue's Point where an ambulance met them. Advertisement AdvertisementInspector Finniss said no parachute was found on the injured man or in the runabout boat. He said police were yet to interview the boat's occupants. He said two similar BASE jumps had occurred off the Harbour Bridge in the past couple of months. ``Same scenario where a boat picks them up and speeds off,'' he said. He said the barbed wire used to stop people leaping off the Bridge was no deterrent. ``They somehow work their way over the top of it. We're talking about acts of stupidity here. If somebody wants to do an act of stupidity you really can't police it or build things to prevent it,'' he said. Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen the incident. Nic Feteris, who has legally BASE jumped from the Harbour Bridge on two occasions, said the accident was tragic. "(The first time I jumped) was for a Mission Impossible film. I was doubling for the hero who fell off the Bridge and miraculously opened the parachute just before hitting the water. The other time was for my own adventure documentary film production," he said. Jimmy Freeman, one of Australia's leading BASE jumpers, told smh.com.au that despite its prestige, BASE jumpers tend to steer clear of the Bridge because it is too easy to get caught. "Not many people jump it at all. I haven't heard of it being jumped for about three or four years," Mr Freeman, who has notched up close to 1100 BASE jumps in six years, said. "You've got security guards, cameras, razor wire. It's just too much of a risk to try and get around. You are almost guaranteed to get busted for it," he said. Mr Freeman said he would love to jump from the bridge if he could get permission. BASE is an acronym for the four main types of objects jumped from - buildings, antenna, spans and earth (cliffs). BASE jumpers should get permission to jump from buildings or structures such as the bridge. Among Australian BASE jumpers killed in recent years were Sydney man Roland Simpson, who died last year when a jump from a building in Shanghai, China, went wrong. Brisbane mechanic Jason Fitz-Herbert was on his way to attend Mr Simpson's funeral in Canberra last October when killed in a jump in the NSW Southern Highlands. Stay Safe - Have Fun - Good Luck The above could be crap, thought provoking, useful, or . . But not personal. You decide. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liv 0 #6 April 15, 2005 The media statements are speculative. Please don't discuss this matter on a public forum while investigations are still taking place. Thanks heaps guys! Livia ABA Secretary Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cesslon 0 #7 April 15, 2005 Kevin Decourcey is the name of the injured. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
