Todays Twin Falls Newspaper Article - You decide

[manship 0]

BASE jumper's death revives debate
By Sandy Miller
Times-News writer
TWIN FALLS -- The death of a BASE jumper Thursday afternoon has reignited debate about whether local officials should regulate or outlaw jumping from the Perrine Bridge.

Meanwhile, the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Department Friday identified the jumper as 30-year-old Jason John Corcoran of Wexford, Pa.

Nancy Howell, public information officer and victims' coordinator for the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Department, said Corcoran was one of a group of seven jumpers visiting Idaho from Pennsylvania. Witnesses said Corcoran had attempted a forward back flip and deployed his "pilot" chute, but the main chute did not open.

BASE is an acronym for building, antenna, span and earth. The extreme sports enthusiasts jump with parachutes from tall structures, and the 486-foot drop from the Perrine Bridge is a favorite of jumpers from around the world. It's the only bridge in the country where people are allowed to BASE jump year-round.

This was the third fatality to result from BASE jumping in Twin Falls County. The last fatality was in June 2002, when 24-year-old Brian Stout of Gilbert, Ariz., fell to his death. Another jumper was killed in February 2000 while jumping from the Hansen Bridge.

At other locations across the country, BASE jumping has either been outlawed or restricted.

Fayetteville, W.Va., will hold its annual BASE jumping event today and tomorrow, the only two days of the year that people are allowed to BASE jump off the New River Gorge Bridge. All jumpers will have to sign waivers which free the county and state from any liability should they be injured or killed. The waivers also include questions about experience, equipment and swimming ability as well as an emergency contact number, said Paul H. Roberts, a BASE jumper and military paratrooper.

Roberts, who has been parachuting for 30 years and says he was one of the first to BASE jump off the Perrine Bridge in 1989, said Twin Falls and Jerome counties would be wise to sit up and take notice from officials in Fayetteville.

"I don't want to ban it. I want it regulated," Roberts said.

BASE jumpers pump thousands of dollars into the local economy. Kent Just, executive of the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, estimated that jumpers bring at least $250,000 to local businesses each year.

But Roberts questioned that way of thinking.

"These guys around here are being blind in one eye about this," Roberts said. "Sure, it draws in revenue, but what about a lawsuit?"

So far, there's never been a lawsuit stemming from a death or accident of a Perrine Bridge BASE jumper. But that could soon change.

Wayne Stout of St. George, Utah, said hearing of Corcoran's death convinced him he needs to sue the state of Idaho for the death of his son, Brian, last year.

He said if BASE jumping off the Perrine Bridge had been regulated, it would have been discovered that his son did not have the correct gear configuration for doing the coordinated jump with seven other BASE jumpers.

"My son's death could have been prevented," Stout said in a phone interview Friday. "The state of Idaho is a contributing factor in my son's death. There's a two-year window, and my plans are to sue the state of Idaho. My son should not be dead."

Twin Falls County Sheriff Wayne Tousley said he has no problem with BASE jumpers as long as they're not causing traffic problems.

"As long as they're not hindering traffic on the bridge, they're not breaking any law," Tousley said. "If I regulate BASE jumping, am I going to regulate rock climbing and whitewater rafting?"

Jim Guyer of Overland Park, Kan., doesn't intend to stop BASE jumping anytime soon. Guyer, who is 75 years old, made 10 jumps from the Perrine Bridge in August and several jumps the previous year as well.

"It can't be very dangerous if an old guy like me can frequently make BASE jumps without injury," Guyer wrote in a letter to the editor in today's Times-News.

But Roberts said it doesn't matter how many jumps you've made. There will always be risks involved.

"There are no experts," Roberts said. "Anyone who tells you that is a liar or a fool."

Stout agreed. Out of the eight jumpers who performed that coordinated jump off Perrine Bridge with his son, three are dead. Dr. Nikolas Hartshorne, a deputy state medical examiner from Portland, Ore., who had tried to save Brian's life, was killed just two weeks later in a BASE jump from "The Nose" -- a 1,300-foot cliff in the Lauterbrunnen Valley in central Switzerland. Then just last weekend, BASE jumper Dwain Weston was killed jumping off Royal Gorge Bridge in Canyon City, Colo., Stout said.

"It's not only an extreme sport, it's a dangerous extreme sport," Stout said. "If I have my way, I'm going to do something about it."

Stout said he feels sadness for Corcoran's family.

"I know what this family will go through," Stout said. "I'm still going though it. Brian was a good person, and he was happy about life. I miss him every day."

Times-News writer Sandy Miller can be reached at 735-3264 or by e-mail at smiller@magicvalley.com.

[rfarris 2]

Quote

"My son's death could have been prevented,"

Please forgive me Mr. Stout... But he didn't have to jump.
That's the problem with today's society is nobody wants to take responsibility for their OWN actions. You don't like my response?? Sue me.

I'm sorry that BASE jumpers die. But.....

Attention: BASE jumping is very Dangerous!!! Doing so may hurt you or kill you.

Quote

"The state of Idaho is a contributing factor in my son's death.

The sate of Idaho is a contibuting factor in the promotion of BASE jumping.



Rod

[base570 1]

Quote

BASE jumper's death revives debate
By Sandy Miller
Times-News writer

Roberts, who has been parachuting for 30 years and says he was one of the first to BASE jump off the Perrine Bridge in 1989, said Twin Falls and Jerome counties would be wise to sit up and take notice from officials in Fayetteville.



"These guys around here are being blind in one eye about this," Roberts said. "Sure, it draws in revenue, but what about a lawsuit?"

Sounds like one of our own is turning on us...

Quote

"It's not only an extreme sport, it's a dangerous extreme sport," Stout said. "If I have my way, I'm going to do something about it."

Thank god he is here to make our sport more safe I guess he just gets afraid when people actually LIVE 'their' lives and their dreams instead of someone else's. Mr. Stout, No-one can bring back your son no matter how many people you sue or blame, can't you see that?? People like you are the reason we (US Citizens) have lost so many of our freedoms already.
570

[QuickDraw 0]

Quote

Stout said. "I'm still going though it. Brian was a good person, and he was happy about life. I miss him every day."

I wonder what he was happy about in life ?

The double edged sword strikes again.

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

[base698 19]

If he really does try to sue the state of Idaho I will be the first to contribute to Idaho's legal fund any money I can... BASE doesn't need to become like skydiving in that regard, especially since that could kill jumping there.

[base698 19]

Quote

Sounds like one of our own is turning on us...

I'm very skeptical of this guy being a jumper... It was probably some guy standing in the visitor area bragging, or perhaps he jumped once in 89 like he said.

[jumpinjackflash 0]

Quote

My son's death could have been prevented,"

I have four sons sir and I cannot imagine the pain your experiencing.

However, none of our deaths can be prevented.

Your heart should be eased knowing he went living his dreams.

These are our dreams too and we don't believe that anyone should be blamed for us dying while living them.

We don't want our dreams threatened and your son wouldn't of wanted that either.


I wish you much peace sir,



Jack

It's a gas, gas, gas...

[andy2 0]

well said.

---------------------------------------------
let my inspiration flow,
in token rhyme suggesting rhythm...

[jimmyp 0]

I am afraid that if Mr. Stout files a suit against the state of Idaho, that rather than bothering with regulating jumping, they will decide that if the jumpers can't be responsible for their own actions, then a ban would be more appropriate. The beauty of the state of Idaho, is that it allows people to make their own decisions, unlike the majority of the rest of the country.
Jimmy P.
Vertigo

[narcimund 0]

I think we're all forgetting a suit against the state for not hand inspecting Brian's pilot chute will be thrown out as frivolous. The state regulates many activities yet does not hire minders to inspect the equipment on a case by case basis.

The case lacks a credible connection between the claim and the truth. It won't get anywhere and the state will (hopefully) recognize that.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[DaveO 0]

Although I didn't know Brian I do know many BASE jumpers. And I can't think of one who would want their family or anyone else to sue someone because they were killed doing something they love. Something that you have to go out of your way to do. Something that you have to buy specific gear to do. Nobody just falls off the bridge. You have to climb the rail. And I know of no one who was forced to BASE jump any where.
I have talked to my family years ago about not taking any legal action against my friends or property owners of objects that I jump. What a INSULT that would be. I truly believe that Brian Stout would not want jumping stopped or regulated in any way because of his death. I know I wouldn't. I stand behind the state of Idaho!
I mean no disrespect to anyone.

Dave Overland
BASE 772

"When it comes to BASE, I'll never give advice, only my opinion"

[base428 1]

I cannot believe the inaccuracies in that article! Allow me to correct many of Sandy Miller's mistakes:

(1) Bridge Day is not this weekend, but next. If you can't even get this right, how much of the article should we believe?
(2) I am the BASE jumping coordinator for Bridge Day 2003. The State of WV and Fayette County have NO requirement to put them in my waiver. There is only one waiver that jumpers sign, and that is MY waiver that mainly protects me and my company from the frivolous lawsuits.
(3) How can anyone do a "forward backflip"? I am a former high school diver, and have never heard of such a dive.
(4) Based on reports from jumpers who witnessed the incident, Mr. Corcoran's "parachute did not open" because Mr. Corcoran did not decide to deploy his parachute until it was too late. That is simply pilot error...not equipment error as inferred by your article.
(5) Bridge Day is only a single day event, not two days as you incorrectly wrote.
(6) My waiver DOES NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT JUMP EXPERIENCE, EQUIPMENT, OR SWIMMING ABILITY. Last year's waiver didn't have it, nor will this years. Where are you getting this information, Ms. Miller? However, when a jumper registers to jump, we do ask questions about equipment and jump numbers. I do not verify this information, and our onsite gear checks cannot always identify parachutes or gear that may be worn out or improperly packed.
(7) Dwain Weston was not killed on a BASE jump off the Royal Gorge Bridge. Get your facts straight, Ms. Miller, when you are talking about the deceased.
(8) I have no record of Mr. Paul H. Roberts attending Bridge Day 2002 or 2003. I am astounded that Ms. Miller even listened to Mr. Roberts despite the fact that he has not recently attended, and perhaps never attended a Bridge Day event. For all I know, Mr. Roberts is just a one-jump wonder....

(c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted. <==For the media only

[brothermuff65 0]

well said jason . i know i have informed my family that there is to be no such stirring of the sh-t to sue or even think of it . we all know its out there every time we jump and it is up to us to accept and deal with responsibility for our own actions i also am sorry for theyre loss but in no way is anyone else responsible for his death just my 2 cents worth . hope to see you all at bridge day .

till later have fun & love each other seeya mb65johnny gates

[The111 1]

Has anyone informed Sandy Miller of these many mistakes? Her contact info is listed at the end of the article. I know I'm probaby the 10000th person to say this, but I *CANNOT STAND* journalists who do such a bad job at obtaining facts before publishing an article. I think when inaccuracies like these are found (which is all too often when skydiving or BASE is involved), the author should be informed of his/her error. Obviously, it won't change anything, but it still seems like the appropriate thing to do.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[base428 1]

I have just spoke with Mr. Stout via telephone.
Sadly, I was informed that this was the first phone call he's received from a BASE jumper regarding his son's death. Nobody has called until now.

There are always two sides to a story. I don't believe we've truly heard what Wayne has to say. Trust me, you NEED to hear what he's saying because he has brought up some very interesting and enlightening points to me. He does not want the Perrine shut down, but only some simple regulation that would put information into the hands of new jumpers who want to jump the Perrine.

Brian was jumping a 6'-9" bridle and 38" pilot chute, going stowed for the first time, and had only 11 jumps while attempting his first 8-way. If you don't see something wrong with that arrangement, then you'll never understand Mr. Stout's wishes to educate jumpers on proper gear configurations when jumping the Perrine. Strange things have occured after Brian's death that I was shocked to hear. For example, the burning of Brian's gear, the vague accident reports, the claims of certain people that they inspected Brian's gear when they never did, the failure of those involved to speak up, the person who sold Brian the "BASE bridle" that was only 6'-9", etc.

Mr. Stout is a grieving father who wants to make sure the same mistake does not happen again. I understand his situation and will support him in any way possible. While Mr. Stout and I may disagree on a few points, as expected, I'm sure we'll find common ground in order to satisfy both sides and make BASE jumping at the Perrine safer for everyone.

There is so much more to talk about. I will post a full length report soon and will discuss this issue at Bridge Day.

(c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted. <==For the media only

[TomAiello 26]

I spoke with Wayne Stout on the telephone today for over an hour.

Basically, all he wants is for jumpers in Twin Falls to be provided with basic information about the requirements for the jump (mostly the recommended gear). Such documentation could easily be provided, and enforced by Don (by, say, not letting people on the boat who haven't read the information and signed a statement to the effect that they understand it).

He would also like us all to refrain from engaging in flame wars with the grieving family.

All of this sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

I know that an effort is underway to provide this kind of information already. I'd like to get involved with it, and see if we can have it in place as soon as possible.

Truthfully, I think a lot of emotions are running very high right now, and that there have been a lot of misunderstandings about his intentions (as jumpers, I'm sure that we are all familiar with misreporting by the press).

I'll now re-lock this thread. Wayne has promised to post shortly, to give us all an update on his position.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com