An Alabama man died after crashing in “extremely rugged terrain” while base jumping in a wingsuit in Utah, officials said Monday.
The Box Elder County, Utah Sheriff’s Office said it received a report around 2 p.m. local time Friday from a friend of the base jumper after the jumper did not provide any updates after the jump.
The sheriff’s office contacted its counterparts in surrounding Weber County and helicopters were deployed to help with the search.
A Utah Department of Safety helicopter located the victim, identified as 27-year-old Alabama resident Jonathan Bizilia, about two hours into the search. Authorities could not immediately be reached for where Bizilia resided in Alabama.
“Tragically, it was confirmed that the individual had crashed and had passed away,” the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office said.
Bizilia’s friend, who told authorities Bizilia was “an experienced base jumper,” provided helpful information on places Bizilia may have jumped from and flight routes Bizilia may have taken, which assisted authorities in locating Bizilia’s body.
“We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this challenging time,” the sheriff’s office said.
