Thursday 6th July 2017, a Swiss wingsuiter (30), suffered a fatal WiSBASE* accident in the sector of the Aiguille de Varan (2,544m), summit located in the town of Passy.
*WiSBASE: Wingsuit Base Jumping is the sport of wingsuit flying. WiSBASE technique is proximity flying, which is flying close to the faces and ridges of mountains.
According to Le Dauphine, the accident occurred in late morning, in the sector of the Aiguille de Varan (2,544m), at the end of the chain of Fiz. The man launched from the aiguille, before hitting the ground near the Varan chalet, 1000 meters below. Sadly, he died on spot.
According to Europe 1, the wingsuiter made "an error of assessment of his itinerary," said to AFP, the Chamonix PGHM (high mountain rescue team).
According to the preliminary investigations, the victim, was an experienced wingsuiter he realised about 600 jumps all along his sporting career. At the moment of the accident he was accompanied by three friends, also wingsuiters.
An investigation has been opened by the Chamonix PGHM to determine the circumstances of the accident.
Wingsuit Flying
Wingsuit flying is an extreme sport where well-defined rules and considerable training is required.
The human body flies through the air using a special jumpsuit, called a wingsuit. The suit adds surface area providing a significant increase in lift. A wingsuit flight normally terminates with a parachute deployment.
A wingsuit can be flown safely from any point that provides sufficient altitude for the flight and parachute deployment. The parachute canopy is similar to a small wing paraglider, permitting good maneuverability and Landing Zone targeting. To fly under the canopy, pilots must unzip their arms from the wingsuit to gain full arm mobility necessary for safe canopy flight.
