A globally renowned extreme athlete died along with another man during a stunt at the Yosemite National Park in California, US media said yesterday.
Tributes poured in from all over the globe for Dean Potter, 43, following his death on Saturday.
He and fellow BASE jumper Graham Hunt, 29, were killed during a jump at Taft Point, ABC News said, citing Yosemite National Park spokesman Scott Gediman.
Reports filtered through to park officials on Saturday of an accident and a helicopter spotted the two bodies on Sunday.
When Rangers got to them about noon, they were identified as Potter and Hunt, Gediman said.
Other media said the pair had been attempting a wingsuit flight from Taft Point but smashed into a rocky outcrop when they tried to fly through a narrow gap in the mountains.
On Potter’s official Facebook page — where he describes himself as “artist, adventurer, athlete” — extreme sports enthusiasts from all over the world paid tribute to the man admired for his fearlessness and incredible courage.
BASE stands for buildings, antennas, spans and Earth that jumpers can parachute from. It is illegal in US national parks.
