A thrill-seeker who parachuted off a California bridge overlooking the Pacific likely drowned, as did the man who jumped in to try to save her, authorities said.
The Monterey County Herald on Tuesday reported that authorities first realized the two BASE jumpers were missing on Saturday last week, although the jump is thought to have occurred days earlier.
BASE is an acronym for building, antenna, span and earth — a reference to the four types of objects thrill-seekers jump off of with parachutes or wingsuits.
Photo: AP
Monterey County Sheriff’s officials on Monday said that a video from a helmet camera shows Mary Katherine “Katie” Connell, of Ventura, descending about 91m and landing on Bixby Creek, which feeds into the Pacific. Shortly after the landing, large waves overtake her.
“As the water retreats back into the ocean, Connell and the parachute are not seen retreating back to shore,” Bernal said.
Sheriff Steve Bernal said her companion then jumped off the bridge to try to save her.
His name and both their ages have not been released.
Bernal said the man likely took off his helmet and parachute to try to rescue her; that is where the footage ends.
Bernal said there are no plans to release the video. Divers are searching the area and other officials are searching from the land and by airplane, Bernal said.
Deputies did not learn about the jumpers until Saturday afternoon, when inspecting an abandoned rental car. A parachute and helmet were found partially buried on the beach.
Deputies looked up the car renter’s name and discovered he had an extensive background in BASE jumping and skydiving.
Bernal said Connell is an experienced skydiver with more than 300 jumps. Little was released about the man except that he is from Finland.
Investigators believe they jumped on Wednesday morning last week.
Jackie Faust, general manager of Skydive Monterey Bay in Marina, said that while skydiving and BASE jumping are similar, there is not much overlap in the communities. She said BASE jumping can be more dangerous and is not regulated like skydiving.
“[BASE jumpers] don’t have two parachutes, they have one, and it’s completely different equipment,” she said.
Jumping off Bixby Bridge can be especially dangerous because of the ocean and the relatively quick drop, Faust said.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was