Video: BASE jumper fails to open parachute in time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38Ycw6qYoMo

A BASE jumper, who was wearing a wing suit, failed to deploy his parachute in time, which resulted in him hitting the river below at almost full speed.

Christopher Brewer, 27, was extremely lucky not to be killed after a BASE jump at this year’s annual Bridge Day event in West Virginia, USA. BASE jumpers (Bridges, Antenna, Spans, Earth) the world over, congregate on West Virginia every year for the event.

Brewer jumped from the 275-metre high bridge just as everyone else did, but he failed to open his parachute in time and hit the water between 100 – 125 kph according to reports from Deadspin.

It was thanks to Brewer’s wing suit that he survived, as he was able to use the webbing as a ‘back-up’ chute. This meant his impact with the water was survivable. Brewer is in hospital in a stable condition, however he has suffered a fractured pelvis, lung injuries and spinal injuries.

Wing suits are designed with the flying squirrel in mind, as the arms and legs of the suit are webbed to the body. This allows people to ‘glide’ through the air while descending, rather than falling straight down.

Brewer was lucky to survive this time. It just goes to show what can go wrong when BASE-jumping.