An Australian father has died in a ‘freak’ BASE jumping accident during a competition in northern Italy.
Perth man James Lee Nowland, 42, died on Wednesday afternoon after jumping the summit of Sass Pordoi, a rocky plateau in the Dolomites.
Investigators believe a technical issue prevented him from opening his parachute, causing him to crash onto a road some 400metres off-course.
The 42-year-old crashed onto a roadway at an altitude of about 1,700metres, according to alpine rescue services.
A group of Australians in his group alerted rescue services who were unable to revive him after rushing to his location by land and helicopter.
‘We tried to do our best to save (him)… there was nothing to do for him,’ rescuer Andrea Dorigatti told Seven News.
‘I asked the friends and they told me that the problem was with the parachute that didn’t get open.’
Mr Nowland’s brother Andrew issued a heartfelt tribute on social media after learning of the tragic accident.
‘Hope you’re soaring through the clouds doing what you love forever,’ he said.
James Nowland leaves behind a wife, Candace, (pictured) and children
Mr Nowland was an experienced BASE jumper
Friends reportedly described the incident as the result of a ‘freak’ accident.
Accidents are an unavoidable part of the extreme sport, with Mr Nowland having publicly mourned his own friend’s death in an accident in Switzerland last year.
The 42-year-old was an experienced BASE jumper, whose social media pages are littered with heart-stopping footage of his past conquests.
The beloved adventurer leaves behind a wife and children.
More to come.
