BASE Jumping Accident Claims Lives of Daredevil Andy Lewis and Businessman in Utah

On a recent weekend, a BASE jumping incident in Utah led to the deaths of two individuals, including an athlete known for his 2012 Super Bowl performance with Madonna. Emergency responders were called to Mineral Bottom, a remote area near the Utah-Colorado border, due to reports of injuries from a BASE jump attempt, according to Grand County, Utah authorities.

The deceased included Andy Lewis, an extreme sports athlete recognized for his BASE jumping exploits, which involve parachuting from tall structures like buildings, bridges, or cliffs. The victims performed a tandem jump, harnessed together, as stated in a social media post by Aerial Arts Moab, an acrobatics company referring to Lewis as a co-owner.

Lewis also operated BASE Jump Moab, offering tandem jumps for beginners. Promotional content on the company’s website showed participants leaping from high cliffs before deploying parachutes. In an undated photo by Jared Alden / Getty Images, Lewis is pictured crossing a highline at Moab’s Fruit Bowl.

Known for pushing the limits in BASE jumping, Lewis gained followers for daring jumps and last-minute parachute deployments, as recalled by BASE jumping instructor John McEvoy, who had jumped with Lewis.

Grand County Sheriff Jamison Wiggins identified the second fatality as Danny Joe Kregle, a 68-year-old businessman cherished by his family for his humor and magic trick performances with his granddaughter.

Beyond BASE jumping, Lewis excelled in slacklining and tricklining, combining tightrope walking with aerial acrobatics. His fame skyrocketed following his appearance in Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime show, performing slackline tricks in a Roman toga.

Though an official tally of BASE jumping fatalities is non-existent, BASEaddict.com records 540 deaths globally since 1981, including 30 in the past year. Previous notable deaths include Dean Potter and Graham Hunt in 2015 during a wingsuit flight at Yosemite National Park.

A 2007 Norwegian study highlighted the dangers of BASE jumping, estimating it to be five to eight times riskier than skydiving. Lewis acknowledged the sport’s dangers, stating to filmmaker Ella Warnick that fatalities were a known reality in the sport.

Tandem jumps pose extra risks by pairing inexperienced participants with seasoned guides under one parachute. McEvoy noted this is a contentious issue within the BASE community. Despite criticism, others see tandem jumps as life-changing experiences for novices.

Attempts to contact BASE Jump Moab for comments remained unanswered.

Lewis achieved notoriety in slacklining, securing four consecutive world championships from 2008 to 2011. Setting a Guinness World Record for slackline surfing in 2011, he balanced over China’s Diaoshuilou waterfall. In 2014, he crossed a slackline between hot air balloons 4,000 feet above Nevada’s desert.

Lewis’ instant fame arose largely due to his collaboration with Madonna.