A man from Squamish, British Columbia, had to be rescued on Tuesday after a mishap while BASE jumping off Slhanay Mountain. BASE jumping involves parachuting or wingsuit flying from fixed structures or cliffs, with BASE standing for building, antenna, span, and earth.
Zachery Mayne, the jumper, veered off course during the jump on November 11, leading to a collision with the mountain’s rock face. His parachute collapsed, causing him to start falling towards the ground before it caught on some rocks, allowing him to reach a small area and free himself from the parachute.
Mayne’s friends contacted Squamish Search and Rescue (SAR) around 4:30 p.m. PT, leading to a search operation involving 30 rescue members who located Mayne hanging onto a small rock ledge about 20 meters below a cliff on Slhanay Peak. If he had fallen further, it would have been fatal, according to SAR manager Mike Teske.
The rescue operation was challenging due to the rugged terrain, requiring assistance from North Shore Rescue and Talon Helicopters to airlift Mayne out of the area. Despite the difficulties, Mayne was successfully rescued at midnight.
After being transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition with lower leg injuries, Mayne expressed gratitude to the rescue teams, his friends, and the Squamish community for their support.
Squamish SAR emphasized the importance of being cautious when engaging in outdoor activities in November, highlighting the rapid onset of darkness and cold temperatures in mountainous regions. Over the past five years, there have been 14 BASE jumping incidents in British Columbia, primarily in Squamish, underscoring the need for proper planning, preparedness, and safety measures for high-risk activities like BASE jumping.
