IBNS-CMEDIA: Seattle Police are searching for two men who allegedly climbed over the glass safety barrier at the city’s iconic Space Needle, flipped over the edge and parachuted to the ground in a daring BASE jump on Friday evening.
The two men could face trespassing charges, according to a statement by Public Affairs Officer Brian Pritchard, ABC News reported.
Also Read: Spider-Man costume, real-life heroics: Arkansas man wins hearts after helping wheelchair user cross road
Police said the pair entered the Space Needle at around 8:50 p.m. on Friday after purchasing admission tickets. Surveillance footage reportedly showed them reaching the observation deck before entering a restroom, where they later emerged wearing helmets.
According to investigators, the men then ran toward the glass barrier, climbed over it, and leapt from the top of the landmark using parachutes.
Officers were unable to locate the jumpers after they landed, and their identities remain unknown.
What is BASE jumping?
According to the University of Cambridge, BASE jumping is an extreme sport in which participants leap from fixed objects such as buildings, bridges, cliffs or antennas using a parachute to slow their descent.
Video of the dramatic jump has since gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention.
BASE jumping is widely regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous adventure sports due to the low-altitude jumps and limited time available to deploy a parachute safely.
Space Needle
The Space Needle is a 605-foot (184-metre) observation tower in Seattle, Washington, and one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the tower is located at Seattle Center in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood and has since become an enduring symbol of Seattle, attracting millions of visitors from around the world.
