Newlywed Dies During BASE Jump At Zion National Park

A newlywed was killed while attempting a BASE jump at Zion National Park in Utah. Amber Bellows, age 28, was killed while jumping off the 7,276-foot peak of Mount Kinesava. Although she and her husband were experienced jumpers, her parachute failed to work and she fell to her death.

Authorities said Bellows jumped first. As her husband Clayton Butler watched in horror, she simply disappeared into the rocks below. When he saw that her parachute malfunctioned, Butler jumped to try to catch her. Unfortunately it was too late. Although Butler landed safely, he could not find his wife.

As the area is remote, Butler had to hike out of the wilderness before he called for help. Authorities said they received the call at around 6:30 pm on Saturday evening. Park officials said they sent several rescue and recovery teams, including a helicopter borrowed from the Grand Canyon National Park.

As reported by CNN, it took nearly 12 hours to locate and recover Bellows’ body. The rescue team lifted her body by helicopter and transported her to a waiting ambulance. It is estimated that she fell approximately 2,000 feet.

Zion National Park superintendent Jim Milestone said the newlywed’s BASE jumping death was a first at the park.

BASE jumping participants jump off of tall fixed structures. As the name indicates, BASE participants often jump from buildings, antenna, span (bridges) and earth (cliffs). Although the participants most often jump from cliffs, they also jump from tall buildings, bridges, and other man-made structures.

The participants use parachutes and other safety gear. However, the sport is considered extreme and dangerous. Unlike skydiving, the jumpers often meet numerous obstacles on their way down. Many popular BASE jumping sites have specifically prohibited the sport.

Milestone stressed that BASE jumping is strictly prohibited at Zion National Park. Although he expressed his condolences to Bellows’ family, he pointed out that the sport is “so dangerous… even for those that are experienced.” He said the rules are in place to save lives.

Park spokesman Aly Baltrus said Bellows and Butler were married less than three weeks. The newlyweds were both natives of Salt Lake City, and had prior experience with BASE jumping. The newlywed killed in the BASE jump had plenty of experience. Unfortunately, her equipment somehow malfunctioned. Baltrus said the incident is still under investigation. Although park visitors are sometimes killed in accidents, this was the first involving a BASE jump.

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