A heart-stopping rescue unfolded this week in the red-rock canyons outside Moab, Utah, when a BASE jumper became hopelessly stranded hundreds of feet above the ground.
The dramatic incident, captured on video, shows the jumper pinned against a sheer cliff by a tangled, rainbow-colored parachute.
The video and eyewitness accounts reveal just how perilous the situation became, with the jumper clinging to the rock as winds tore at their chute.
Tangled and Trapped on the Cliff
The accident occurred Wednesday afternoon in the rugged Kane Creek area.
According to authorities, the unnamed jumper struck the canyon wall and became stuck in an impossible position.
Strong winds whipped the parachute violently against the rockface, leaving the jumper with no safe way down.
With the situation growing more dangerous by the minute, a multi-agency emergency response swung into action.
Helicopter Hoist Captured in Dramatic Video
A nearly 20-minute-long video shows the tense rescue.
A first responder is lowered from a helicopter toward the stranded jumper, battling swirling winds and the downdraft from the chopper that caused the parachute to rip against the cliff.
Spectators on nearby trails held their breath as the rescuer navigated unstable terrain, fighting both gravity and gale-force gusts, to reach the jumper.
Coordinated Rescue Takes Hours
Grand County Emergency Services reported that officers were first called at 1:08pm, but the treacherous landscape delayed physical access until 3:15pm.
Even after reaching the jumper, it took another 45 minutes to safely secure them for airlift.
“By 3:15 a team member had reached the patient, provided advanced treatment for moderate injuries, and secured them so there was no risk of further fall,” Grand County EMS confirmed.
Successful Airlift to Safety
At 4pm, the DPS Aero Bureau executed a flawless hoist, lifting the jumper from the cliff to a nearby landing zone.
From there, the individual was transported via ambulance in stable condition with moderate injuries.
“The BASE jumper was successfully rescued,” the Grand County Sheriff’s Department confirmed on Facebook, emphasizing the advanced care provided before the airlift.
Experienced Rescue Team Plays Key Role
The operation involved multiple skilled personnel, including four BASE jumpers who also serve on the county’s Search and Rescue team.
Moab BASE Access, a local nonprofit, praised their heroism in a statement:
“We are incredibly grateful to Grand County Search and Rescue for their efforts — including the four BASE jumpers who participated directly in this rescue,” the group said, highlighting the dangers inherent in the sport.
BASE Jumping Remains High-Risk But Rare
Moab BASE Access noted that while the sport is popular, BASE-related incidents make up less than 5% of Search and Rescue calls in Grand County over the past three years.
They stressed that incidents like this one, visible from town, are exactly what rescue teams train for regularly.
“It’s a privilege to serve this community alongside such dedicated professionals, and to bring people home safely,” Grand County EMS added, praising the coordination and skill that made the rescue possible.
Legal But Dangerous Activity Draws Global Jumpers
BASE jumping is legal on Bureau of Land Management lands around Moab, which attracts jumpers from around the world to the area’s dizzying sandstone cliffs.
But Moab BASE Access cautioned that it remains a high-risk activity with little room for error, underscoring the importance of experienced emergency teams ready to respond when accidents occur.
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