|
home / News
BASE jumper rescued from Superstition Mountains
Received from Pinal County Sheriff's Office
Friday, March 2, 2012
Gold Canyon, AZ -- A Pinal County man is back on the ground safe after his parachute caught on a cliff face while attempting to BASE jump from a peak on the Superstition Mountains. ("BASE" is an acronym that stands for the four types of fixed objects from which one can jump: buildings, aerials, spans (bridges), and earth (cliffs).)
Around 11:00 A.M., Sam Baker, 38, from Eloy, was hiking with several other friends when he and two other people in the group attempted to BASE jump off a 600-foot peak near Siphon Draw. The first two jumpers leaped, deployed parachutes, and were pulled away from the mountain, successfully making it to the ground. Baker, the last to jump, deployed his shoot after falling several hundred feet, but was pulled back into the face of the cliff.
Baker became hung-up on a ledge, roughly 150 feet from the ground. Several people from the group tried to climb down to Baker as the other two jumpers made their way up. After nearly 5 hours of trying to reach Baker, one of the friends called 9-1-1 for help.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue Team, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Mountain Rescue Team, and units with the Department of Public Safety responded to the scene. Two dozen rescuers worked to lower units down to Baker using climbing rope. Baker was alert, conscious, and breathing. Baker was then tied into a harness and lowered to safety. The entire rescue took seven hours to complete.
Baker stated, “A huge thank you to all the rescuers involved. What they did was selfless and much appreciated. We all know the outcome could have been a polar opposite.”
Baker did not require medical attention.
While it is not illegal to BASE jump off the Superstition Mountains, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office advises against it due to unstable wind conditions.
Friends indicated Baker is an experienced hiker and BASE jumper.
Footage taken during the rescue can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg2MgkA3puY&context=C3edba96ADOEgsToPDskJtZKgAL155M6-PPppsMf1Y.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pinal County Sheriff's Office / CopaNews.com
Baker is seen here reuniting with friends.
|