Tragic BASE Jump in Utah Canyon Claims Lives of Two, Including Notable Athlete
WHO:
AP News - Andy Lewis, an extreme athlete known for BASE jumping and slacklining, was one of the deceased.
AP News - An unidentified 50-year-old man was also killed in the incident.
AP News - John McEvoy, a BASE jumping instructor, provided commentary on Lewis's skills and risks.
WHAT:
AP News - A BASE jumping accident in a Utah canyon resulted in the deaths of two individuals.
AP News - Lewis was known for performing onstage with Madonna during the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show.
AP News - Lewis won four consecutive world championships in competitive slacklining from 2008 to 2011.
AP News - Lewis set a Guinness World Record for slackline surfing in 2011.
WHERE:
AP News - The accident occurred at Mineral Bottom, a remote desert area near the Utah-Colorado line.
WHEN:
AP News - The BASE jumping accident took place over a weekend.
WHY:
AP News - BASE jumping is considered a dangerous sport, with risks of injury or death significantly higher than skydiving.
HOW:
AP News - BASE jumping involves parachuting to the ground after jumping from a tall fixed object, such as a building or cliff.
AP News - Lewis owned a business called BASE Jump Moab, which offered tandem jumps to inexperienced customers.
(UPDATED June 15, 2026 23:36 UTC)
A BASE jumping accident in a remote desert area near the Utah-Colorado line has resulted in the tragic deaths of two individuals, including extreme athlete Andy Lewis, who was known for his remarkable skills in slacklining and for performing with Madonna during the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show. John McEvoy, a BASE jumping instructor, highlighted the inherent risks of the sport, which are significantly higher than those of skydiving, as Lewis had also set a Guinness World Record for slackline surfing in 2011 and won four consecutive world championships in competitive slacklining from 2008 to 2011. Lewis owned a business called BASE Jump Moab, which provided tandem jumps for inexperienced customers, underscoring his commitment to sharing his passion for this dangerous sport.