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Dean Potter, who died during a wingsuit flight in Yosemite National Park, receives his award for World Alternative Sportsman of the Year on May 20, 2003.(Photo: David Cannon)
Iconic extreme athlete Dean Potter, a self-described "artist, climber, line walker and human-body flyer," has died while attempting to wingsuit flight above Yosemite National Park, authorities said.
Potter, 43, and Graham Hunt, 29, jumped to their death Saturday from the California park's Taft Point, a 7,500 rock cliff affording expansive views of the park and attractions such as El Capitan and Yosemite Falls.
Yosemite chief of staff Mike Gauthie told Outside Magazine magazine the duo's spotter heard two sounds that could have been impacts or could have been parachutes snapping open. The spotter was unable to contact the pair by radio, then went to a predetermined meeting place. But the men did not show up.
"They were optimistic, thinking that the men might have been arrested," Gauthier told the magazine.
Yosemite Search and Rescue rangers were unable to locate the pair overnight. Sunday morning, a state police helicopter spotted the bodies. No parachutes had been deployed. Two rangers were then airlifted to the site to perform the recovery.
Instagram | @deanpotter
First ever FreeBASE #solo. I innovated this new form of #rock #climbing in 2008 on the North Buttress of the #Eiger in #Switzerland. This concept of turning dying into #flying is a metaphor for my basic life principle... Quite often there is a way to change the worse things we have going on into the best things which become our strengths. Photo by my mentor and #mastermind Beat Kammerlander. @Fiveten_Official @AdidasOutdoor @StrideHealth @MetoliusClimbing @Goalzero @Guayaki #FlyFee #FlySafe #Freedom
"This is a horrible incident, and our deepest sympathies go out to their friends and family," Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman told the Associated Press. "This is a huge loss for all of us."
Potter and Hunt, who lived near Yosemite, were regular climbers in the park. Potter began his rise to fame by making solo ascents of some of Yosemite's most difficult rock faces. He also has performed spectacular tightrope walks between park peaks.
However, BASE jumping -- BASE is an acronym for building, antenna, (bridge) span and earth -- is illegal in Yosemite.
Wingsuits involve parachute-like material connecting the legs and running between the arms and legs that can allow the body to fall as if it were itself a parachute. A small but complete parachute is usually released before landing.
Last year Potter and Rapp produced a film called When Dogs Fly, depticing Potter adventures BASE jumping with his dog, Whisper. Footage of the goggled Whisper flying through the air strapped to Potter's back quickly went viral.
FOR THE WIN
Meet the world's first wingsuit BASE Jumping dog
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