Wingsuit flier found dead after partner reports him missing after jump, CA deputies say

A man was found dead after his BASE jumping partner reported him missing following a jump, California deputies said.

Leonardo Durant jumped from Mount Morrison near Mammoth Lakes while wearing a wingsuit on Aug. 31, according to a Sept. 7 Facebook post by the Mono County Sheriff’s Office.

The mountain has an elevation of 12,241 feet.

Deputies began a search, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter was requested from Fresno, the post said.

The helicopter spotted Durant dead on a “craggy slope” of the mountain, officials said.

A hoist couldn’t be used to recover Durant’s body because of the weather, rock type and angle, deputies said.

Yosemite Search and Rescue began a mission on Sept. 2 and recovered Durant’s body, the release said.

“Leo. I am grateful for the chance to have met you and the beautiful light you shone on the world,” Katie Wallis said on Instagram. “The world is a little more dull without you.”

BASE (building, antennae, spans, earth) jumping is the sport of jumping from high, fixed objects with a parachute, and “Durant was an experienced BASE jumper who used a ‘wing suit’ in his jumps,” deputies said.

Mount Morrison is about a 300-mile drive north of Los Angeles.

This story was originally published September 9, 2024 at 1:42 PM with the headline "Wingsuit flier found dead after partner reports him missing after jump, CA deputies say."