A professional BASE jumper from America was injured last week near Vanrhynsdorp when the ropes of his parachute became entangled, and he hit the cliffs and tumbled down.
Chase Reinford (29), from Philadelphia, was lowered from the cliff in a lengthy all-night rescue and carried over rough terrain to a helicopter that transported him to the hospital.
This daring sportsman and thrill seeker has over a million fans worldwide. He constantly shares videos and photos of his extreme adventures and BASE jumps on social media and his YouTube channel, “Adrenaline.Addiction”.
Reinford told Weslander that a few factors contributed to the accident last Thursday (12 April). “The wind conditions were less than ideal and the parachute cord was twisted when I opened it,” he related. He spun around and hit the rock face before tumbling to the foot of the 150 m high cliff on the side of the Maskamberg (Gifberg). It was late Wednesday afternoon.
His friends Franz Steinbach and Antione Prépuce, who had jumped with him that week, called for help.
According to David Nel, spokesperson for Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), the Western Cape EMS ambulance services coordinated a rescue team consisting of members of WSAR, the Aviation Rescue Coordination Centre and volunteers. They treated Reinford and placed him in a rescue stretcher after climbing and scrambling over 3 km of rough terrain for two hours to reach him at around 01:30. Despite the darkness the team worked tirelessly for seven hours to first lower him down the cliff and then carry him down the mountain to a farm road.
Unfavourable weather meant that Reinford was only flown to a Cape Town hospital on Friday with a Netcare 911 medical helicopter.
According to Reinford this was the first time he had been injured in his many BASE jumps in seven years. BASE is an acronym for four categories of fixed objects from which its jumpers jump: buildings, radio masts, bridges and cliffs. Jumpers then use parachutes or squirrel flight suits to glide safely to the ground.
Reinford was still in the hospital with multiple fractures at the time of going to print, but said he was doing well.
Nel praised the rescue team’s commitment and passion, and encouraged readers to save the WSAR emergency contact number, 021 937 0300.
