Base jumpers

[Ntropolis 600]

(not sure if this belongs here... move if needed)

 

Apparently there's a "phenomenon" going on where parachuters are jumping from broadcast/communications towers called "base jumping." This morning three people jumped from WVEC's tower, one of them hitting a power line and taking power out to about 500 people...

 

http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_093009_suffolk_parachute_poweroutage.1ce581ffd.html

 

Anyone had reports of these in their area?

[WAVY 10 Fan 233]

This is the first I have heard of that.

[KRAP-TV 146]

I can't say that I've heard of this happening in my area, but I've certainly heard of it before. I think it's an idiotic thing to do: at least when it comes to jumping off a TV/radio tower. Between the guide wires and electrical equipment, it almost guarantees a Darwin award recipient.

[bixpchiphead 105]

I can't say that I've heard of this happening in my area' date=' but I've certainly heard of it before. I think it's an idiotic thing to do: at least when it comes to jumping off a TV/radio tower. Between the guide wires and electrical equipment, it almost guarantees a Darwin award recipient.[/quote']

 

Not to mention all that wonderful RF radiation leaking from the tx line up the tower to cook the jumpers innards.

[caliwxdude 255]

Similar thing happened on the new 2,000-foot KXTV/KOVR tower out in Walnut Grove a few years back... except in that case, the BASE jumper's chute got tangled up in the guy wires a few hundred feet up and firefighters had to perform a fairly risky rescue. If you ask me, I would have left the dumbass up there.

[newsie 11]

For some reason, I just love how WTKR and WAVY are refusing to mention that it was WVEC's tower.