Authorities reported a fatal BASE jumping incident over the weekend in a Utah canyon, resulting in two deaths. One of those was Andy Lewis, a well-known daredevil athlete recognized for his performance with Madonna during the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show.
Emergency teams responded to an accident reported at Mineral Bottom, a remote area near the Utah-Colorado border. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Lewis’s death, describing him as an extreme athlete involved in BASE jumping, a sport that involves parachuting from high fixed objects like buildings or cliffs.
The victims were performing a tandem jump, where two people are harnessed together. According to Aerial Arts Moab, an acrobatics company co-owned by Lewis, they described him as a “best friend” and mentioned the tandem activity involved pairing inexperienced customers with a guide. Promotional content from BASE Jump Moab showed pairs jumping from cliffs before deploying parachutes.
John McEvoy, a BASE jumping instructor in Idaho who had jumped with Lewis, stated, “He had an incredible level of athleticism and skill… but took incredible risks.”
Grand County Sheriff Jamison Wiggins identified the other victim as 68-year-old Danny Joe Kregle, a father and grandfather known for his business acumen. His family remembered him for his humor and love of performing magic with his granddaughter.
Besides BASE jumping, Lewis was active in slacklining and tricklining, combining tightrope walking with aerial acrobatics. He gained national attention in Madonna’s Super Bowl show, executing stunts on a line while she performed.
A study from Norway in 2007 found BASE jumping riskier than skydiving by five to eight times. Since 1981, a compilation by BASEaddict.com recorded 540 fatalities worldwide, with 30 deaths last year alone. Prominent fatalities include Dean Potter and his partner, who died in a 2015 wingsuit attempt in Yosemite.
Despite the inherent risks, Lewis recognized the dangers publicly. He remarked on the frequency of fatalities in interviews, providing insight into the sport’s hazardous nature. Tandem BASE jumping, involving novices, often sparks debate over safety versus offering extraordinary experiences.
BASE Jump Moab did not respond to messages about the accident. Lewis’s legacy includes world championships in slacklining from 2008 to 2011 and setting a Guinness World Record for slackline surfing over China’s Diaoshuilou waterfall. He also navigated a slackline between two hot air balloons at 4,000 feet above Nevada.
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