Jerseyman killed in base jumping accident in Italy

Tuesday 11 June 2019

A 32-year-old base jumper from Jersey has died after losing control of his wingsuit as he fell from a 3,000m peak in the Italian Dolomites.

Jean Andre Quemener's suit is believed to have failed after he leapt from the Sass Pordoi mountain, a well-known panoramic peak near Canazei, between Venice and the Austrian border, on Saturday.

Officials said the area was being rocked by high winds when the accident happened, the Sun reported.

The wind sent Mr Quemener careering into the rock face and he dropped more than 200 metres after losing control of his wing suit. According to Italian news site Trentino, Mr Quemener was unable to open his wing suit.

His girlfriend, who had launched herself ahead of him, called emergency services around 13:30 after Mr Quemener did not make it to the landing point.

The Aiut Alpin (Alpine Aid) helicopter was called to the scene to help locate him. The Canazei fire brigade, an ambulance, a team of mountain rescuers and the police were also called.

Pictured: Sass Pordoi is popular among BASE jumpers for its uninterrupted view over the Dolomites.

Mr Quemener was eventually found in a snow-filled gully. Paramedics sadly confirmed he had died upon impact.

It is believed Mr Quemener and his friend made their way to Sass Pordoi - a popular destination for BASE jumpers - in a cable car.

A police spokesperson said: ''We were called by mountain rescue to a fatal BASE jumping incident involving a British national and informed the relevant authorities. There was nothing that could be done.''

The Foreign Office said they are supporting Mr Quemener's family and are in contact with the local authorities.

A number of BASE jumpers have previously died in the area, including Canadian Mario Richard, who had more 7,000 skydives and 2,000 BASE jumps under his belt, in August 2013.