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Two experienced BASE jumpers drown after leaping from bridge filmed on GoPro

AN experienced BASE jumper’s death was captured by the GoPro helmet camera of the instructor who died trying to save her.

Did adrenaline junkies film their deaths?
Did adrenaline junkies film their deaths?

AN experienced BASE jumper drowned after leaping from a bridge in footage captured by an instructor, who died after hurling himself after her.

Mary Katherine “Katie” Connell is presumed dead after she went missing on Saturday morning.

The nurse, in her 20s, and the instructor both parachuted from Bixby Creek Bridge in Big Sur, California, US.

Now police say video from the instructor’s GoPro helmet camera shows Katie plunging 300ft into Bixby Creek, which feeds into the Pacific Ocean.

Shortly after she lands, three large waves engulf her and she vanishes from view, presumably having been dragged out to sea.

Katie Connell had completed about 300 BASE jumps. Picture: Facebook
Katie Connell had completed about 300 BASE jumps. Picture: Facebook
Katie Connell was an experienced BASE jumper. BASE jumping is parachuting or wingsuit flying from a fixed structure or cliff. Picture: Facebook
Katie Connell was an experienced BASE jumper. BASE jumping is parachuting or wingsuit flying from a fixed structure or cliff. Picture: Facebook
BASE jumping is prohibited or illegal in some places. Picture: Facebook
BASE jumping is prohibited or illegal in some places. Picture: Facebook

Sheriff Steve Bernal said her companion, identified only as a Finnish BASE jumping expert, then leapt off the bridge to help her.

He said the man likely took off his helmet and parachute to rescue her, which is when the footage ends.

Search and rescue teams recovered the GoPo along with the man’s helmet and parachute as they scoured the area to search for the two thrill seekers.

At the request of Katie’s family the footage will not be released to the public.

Tom Aiello, a friend of the pair, told a local radio station that both were experienced BASE jumpers.

The Bixby Bridge is 218m long and 85m high. Picture: AAP Image/Mike Osborne
The Bixby Bridge is 218m long and 85m high. Picture: AAP Image/Mike Osborne

While it is not illegal to jump from Bixby Creek Bridge, experts say it is particularly dangerous because it is a relatively quick drop.

Connell, a Tennessee native, lived and worked in Ventura. Sheriff Bernal said she had completed about 300 BASE jumps.

Katie Connell was an experienced BASE jumper. Picture: Facebook
Katie Connell was an experienced BASE jumper. Picture: Facebook

This article originally appeared on The Sun.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/two-experienced-base-jumpers-drown-after-leaping-from-bridge-filmed-on-gopro/news-story/8a76d54f4c30241467698d1253219327