A 27-year-old firefighter died on Sunday after his wingsuit failed during a jump from a 700-foot height in northern Utah, authorities reported.
Gabe Reilly was with a group of eight to 10 people when the incident occurred near Millville Canyon in Cache County, according to the Cache County Sheriff's Office.
What happened during the jump
Chief Deputy Doyle Peck described Reilly as "experienced in this type of activity." During this particular jump, "something went wrong and he did not have enough lift with his wingsuit," causing him to hit the ground "at a high rate of speed, resulting in his death."
Emergency services were called shortly after 9am local time (4pm BST) to an area near Leetham's Hollow, which NBC News described as having "walls and cliffs not unlike the Grand Canyon's."
Emergency response and recovery
The response involved Cache County Search and Rescue, local firefighters, sheriff's deputies, and helicopters from Life Flight and the Utah Department of Public Safety. A flight medical crew recovered Reilly's body from the area, where he was pronounced dead.
Reilly had worked for the Salt Lake City Fire Department for four years, the department said in a social media post on Monday. He had followed "in the footsteps of his father," who retired from the department in 2024.
Tributes and context
Paying tribute, the department said: "Gabe was known for his infectious smile, kind-heartedness, and his free-spirited nature. Gabe's commitment to the department, his fellow firefighters, and the community will not be forgotten."
"On behalf of the Salt Lake City Fire Department, we extend our deepest condolences to the entire Reilly family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow firefighters during this difficult time."
BASE jumping is a high-risk sport that involves leaping from fixed objects such as cliffs, buildings, bridges, and antennas before deploying a parachute to land. Wingsuits allow experienced jumpers to glide horizontally over long distances during descent.
