Police have opened an inquest docket after a BASE jumper fell to his death on Table Mountain on Monday, 5 January.
Rescue teams responded to reports that there was a fatal wingsuit BASE jumping incident in Platteklip Gorge on Monday morning.
A substantial search and recovery operation was launched, involving numerous ground teams and aerial resources, including members from Wilderness Search and Rescue, Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS, SANParks – Table Mountain National Park, SAPS Search And Rescue, ER24, Taurus Medical Film and Sports Medics, SANParks Honorary Rangers, local SAPS, Air Mercy Service (AMS) and City of Cape Town Law Enforcement.
Rescuers were deployed to the top of Table Mountain via the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway cable car to search down Platteklip Gorge for the downed pilot, while a small team on board the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter assisted from the air.
The crashed pilot was located shortly before 10h00. Tragically, he was found deceased.
The deceased was flown from the mountain to a nearby landing zone and handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Police are currently gathering information to ascertain his identity, as the injuries on his face are too severe.
Wilderness Search and Rescue has acknowledged the dedication and professionalism of all responding agencies, rescue personnel and volunteers, whose compassion and expertise were evident throughout the operation.
What is BASE Jumping?
B.A.S.E. jumping is an extreme sport in which participants jump from fixed objects such as Buildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges), or Earth (cliffs), while using a parachute to slow their descent.
Wingsuit BASE jumping adds an additional layer of complexity: a specialised suit with fabric stretched between the arms and legs allows the jumper to glide horizontally and control their descent, like flying before deploying a parachute.
While wingsuits enable longer flight and increased manoeuvrability, they also increase the risks involved.
SANParks states that BASE jumping is an illegal and unregulated activity, strictly prohibited within Table Mountain National Park.
