Two BASE jumpers were killed Sunday in a deadly incident at Mineral Bottom, a remote canyon area in Grand County, Utah, according to local authorities. The Grand County Sheriff's Office identified one victim as a 50-year-old man and the other as Andrew Lewis of Moab. Both men died from their injuries at the scene, and local teams launched a technical response to reach the rugged area.
Rescue Crews Race Into Remote Canyon
Deputies, search-and-rescue teams, two Intermountain helicopters and Grand County EMS were dispatched to the canyon, KMYU reports. With the site tucked deep in the desert and ringed by steep rock, responders faced a complicated approach just to get to the victims.
In a statement shared on social media, the Grand County Sheriff's Office said it "extends its deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic incident." Officials have not yet released additional information about the jump itself or what might have gone wrong.
Why Jumpers Flock To Mineral Bottom
Mineral Bottom sits inside a cluster of cliffs overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, which has flagged the broader area as a hotspot for roped and aerial recreation. That includes a designated Mineral Bottom BASE Jumping Focus Area, where thrill seekers come for sheer drops and sweeping canyon views.
The agency has previously proposed targeted rules for the Mineral and Hell Roaring canyons aimed at protecting wildlife while keeping much of the terrain open to aerial sports, according to the BLM. The goal has been to balance environmental safeguards with a recreation scene that has put this stretch of desert on the map for extreme sports.
High Stakes And A History Of Hard Recoveries
BASE jumping around Moab has produced serious injuries and deaths over the years, and past recoveries in Mineral Canyon have been lengthy and technically demanding, according to reporting by KSL. The combination of sheer cliffs, talus slopes and limited road access often forces rescuers to call in aircraft or specialized rope teams for recoveries.
Authorities have not released details about what caused Sunday’s incident. Investigators and emergency teams remained on scene, and Hoodline will monitor official updates from the Grand County Sheriff's Office and local agencies and update this story as more information becomes available.
