Extreme athlete Andy Lewis dies in BASE jump in Utah
CNN • • sports
Key Points:
- Andy Lewis, a renowned extreme athlete known for BASE jumping and slacklining, died in a weekend accident in a Utah canyon along with another unidentified 50-year-old man, according to Grand County sheriff’s office.
- Lewis gained widespread recognition for performing onstage with Madonna during the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show and was celebrated in the BASE jumping community for his skill and willingness to take high risks.
- BASE jumping, which involves parachuting from fixed objects like cliffs or buildings, is significantly more dangerous than skydiving, with an estimated risk five to eight times greater, and has resulted in hundreds of fatalities worldwide since 1981.
- Lewis owned BASE Jump Moab, a business offering tandem BASE jumps to novices, though it is unclear if the fatal jump involved a tandem setup; tandem jumps carry additional risks but are generally considered lower risk within the sport.
- Beyond BASE jumping, Lewis was a champion slackliner, holding multiple world titles and setting records for high-risk slackline feats, including walking between hot air balloons over 4,000 feet above the Nevada desert.
