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KUALA LUMPUR – Whilst accidents resulting in fatalities are rare in BASE jumping, this does not discount the fact that the sport poses just as much of a risk as any other high-adrenaline activity.
This was the view of skydiving and BASE jumping instructor Haziq Azlan, who was commenting on calls to ban skydiving-related events following an incident that resulted in the death of BASE jumper Azuan Taharudin, 49, earlier this month.
Haziq, who coaches for the Hawk Skydive Club, said the deceased was among an elite group of highly experienced skydivers.
He said BASE jumping, an acronym for parachuting from fixed objects including "building", "antenna", "span", and "earth" (cliff), requires a higher skill level than skydiving and requirements to take part in the sport is strict.
International requirements dictate that one needs to complete a minimum of 200 skydives to qualify for BASE jumping.
Additionally, skydivers who want to BASE jump must have a mentor and enrol in a course.
"Due to these requirements, not many locals can afford to take part due to financial constraints and risks," Haziq told The Vibes recently.
He said skydiving lessons and getting a licence cost between RM15,000 and RM20,000.
However, this only covers 25 skydiving sessions.
In order to BASE jump, the candidate has to complete another 175 skydives.
"This does not include equipment. Only those who are really interested will choose this sport as part of their lifestyle," said Haziq.
On January 1, Azuan died while performing a BASE jump trial at the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry building in Putrajaya.
He was part of a group of eight BASE jumpers from Team Putrajaya Corporation (PPj), who were training for a performance in conjunction with this year's Federal Territories day celebrations.
Azuan reportedly lost control of his parachute and hit the side of the building, police had said, adding organisers did not notify authorities about the training.
The tragedy comes a decade after an Australian woman and BASE jumper, Kylie Tanti Marion, 42, plunged to her death while practising at the 165m-high Alor Star Tower in Kedah in September 2010.
The latest death resulted in calls for PPj to review the inclusion of the spectator sport as a tourism product in the Federal Territory.
In an open letter, writer Y.S. Chan argued that public spectacles, such as BASE jumping, will invite large crowds and lead to congestion, indiscriminate parking and littering.
Chan said BASE jumping was "off the mark" as a tourism product as it does not generate income for organisers.
Chan also said there were good reasons for owners not to allow such dangerous acts on their buildings as any fatality may cause a stigma and define the site forever.
Organisers, such as PPj, would also be linked to the tragedy.
In welcoming Chan's comments, Haziq said it was not so much about banning the sport but improving safety measures.
"Accidents happen. Learn from it. Improve whatever is necessary. At the end of the day, even with 100% safety measures undertaken, Allah will still be the judge and it's not within our hands.
"Azuan left us doing what he loved most." – The Vibes, January 21, 2021
