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Darwin Awards
2014 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Jan Davis' Fatal BASE Jump of 3,000

2014 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Jan Davis was considered one of the best female skydivers and BASE jumpers in the world. On October 22, 1999, she BASE jumped one of the most favorite BASE jumping locations in the world: the 3,000 granite mountain called El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in California, USA. The occasion was a protest against the Park's policy of banning BASE jumping, Jan was the last of 4 BASE jumpers to jump that day. She is wearing a stripped prison uniform to emphasize the protest.

But Jan Davis made the number one mistake in BASE jumping and skydiving: never borrow someone else's parachute when jumping - especially if you are not familiar with how it works. Because she knew park rangers would arrest her after the jump and confiscate her parachute, she opted to borrow someone else's cheap parachute instead. Without knowing that the rip cord is located on the side of her leg, she spends the 20 seconds it takes to fall from the top of El Capitan to the bottom trying to find the rip cord which is normally located on the back of the parachute.

She hit the ground floor at approximately 135 miles per hour. A park ranger said the sound of her hitting the ground was so strong and loud, it triggered car alarms nearby.

In an article about the incident, Jan's husband (the one filming the first video) said that she didn't have any fear of jumping El Capitan that day. She had jumped El Capitan so much that it was pretty much routine. Imagine the shock she must have felt when she couldn't find the rip cord. She had 20 seconds to think about it.

Submitted on 04/01/2014

Submitted by: Jason
Reference: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FATAL+PLUNGE%3B+PROTEST+OF+JUMPING+BAN+TURNS+DEADLY.-a083626607

Copyright © 2014 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

Candi said:
Definitely Toss: Other
Sorry, Jason, but BASE jumpers and other extreme sports enthusiasts know the risks they face, whether from jumping or equipment. Other moderators may differ. Thanks anyway, and submit again!


Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: No Self-Selection
As Candi said. She was considered one of the best BASE jumpers in the world so she was well aware of the risks involved. Thanks just the same.


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