UK & World News
- 12 June 2012, 19:21
UK Base Jumper Killed In Cliff Horror Plunge
A British base jumper who was left dangling from rocks for three hours after his parachute caught a cliff face fell to his death before he could be rescued.
Jake Simkins, thought to be in his early 40s, was on holiday with his pregnant girlfriend when the accident happened on the Greek island of Zante, also known as Zakynthos.
The parachute got snagged on a cliff above Navagio beach, leaving Mr Simkins hanging from a rock face.
He reportedly called and spoke to his partner on his mobile phone and told her not to worry as emergency services tried to reach him.
Dutch tourist Corne van der Eerden, who witnessed the incident, said: "We heard a flapping sound and saw what we thought was a guy sky-diving or parachuting.
"He crashed into the wall - it looked to be about 60m high."
Mr van der Eerden said the parachute appeared stuck on the rocks.
"I shouted out to him and he said he thought he had broken his leg. He said he had his mobile phone on him and was going to call his wife," he said.
"I told him to be careful but he said he was going to hang on tight. Our boat arrived then, so my wife and I had to leave," he told the BBC.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed the death and said it was assisting Mr Simkins' family.
what do you think?
Julie Owen
a tragic accident shame on the comment below ;o(
Kelly Curtis
Should have stopped that activity once he became responsible for the welbeing of a human life. Sad.
TheKarmacanic
While I wouldn't call him an idiot, I will say that I think he had misplaced priorities. Unnecessarily risking his life while impending Fatherhood beckoned, was probably not the best thing he could've done! His pregnant girlfriend must be distraught! No doubt there will be those that say, "At least he died doing something that he loved". But what about the child that will never know it's Father?
Ron Cheetham
for the sake of the memory of him , let us hope for the wellbeing of his wife
Ron Cheetham
wife or girlfriend ? , there seems to be some confusion
Norman Lindsay
It's only confusing if you think it's important.
dawn mckenna
does it matter
Hayley .
My first thought .. selfish! .. Im sorry but if you have a child on the way, you dont go doing something so pointless and something that risks your life! Im sure he cared about his girlfriend/wife and unborn child but he cant have cared that much if the thrill of base jumping was more important to him!! I hope his girlfriend/wife can stay strong, healthy and positive for her unborn child and that she has many amazing storys to tell the child of its father who clearly enjoyed extreme activities.
Luke Grailey
I agree Hayley, if you are single and want to go thrill seaking with stuff like this, then that is up to you, but as soon as you have a child and a partner your primary respinsibility is and always will be to them after that.
ali baba
I just don't get how you can be dangling from a cliff for 3 hours. And the Greek authorities have no way of bringing him to safety in those 3 hours. Get a helicopter with a rope and safety harness.
bobh_385
All sold off with the austerity measures imposed by Germany
Norman Lindsay
Ali, you'll be a SAR expert then with many years experience piloting rescue helicopters or maybe you're a helo winchman. Do you know the area? Do you know the cliff geography? If you are "none of the above" please leave it to those who know.
Gary Smith
Very sad loss of life, but let us remember when someone risks their life jumping off a cliff, if they get into difficults they also put the lives of rescue services at risk too.
Norman Lindsay
I'm with you Gary, we see it every year with amateur rock climbers too.
andy may
a lot of mtn rescue personnel start off as amateur climbers and that is why they are willing to help in a persons hour of need. yes, i am one of them.
Michael Mcardle
very little sympathy for an idiot who put jumping from a freat height before the happiness of his partner and child. u know some people want to grow up and get their priorities right
andy may
nice conclusion you've come to. IDIOT.
john
Whenever a British tourist falls off a hotel balcony/cliff etc, etc, the finger of guilt is always pointed at the rescue services/doctors etc, etc of the foreign country and not the lemming like activities of the tourists.
andy may
nice to see all the sympathetic and judgemental comments on here, as usual.
dawn mckenna
I know Andy whether or whether not it was a silly thing to do the man is dead and his poor pregant girlfriend will be distraught. R.I.P.
andy may
that was supposed to read "non-judgemental". a poor attempt at sarcasm!!!!
Brenda Munro
How inconsiderate to partake in a dangerous sport such as this when his girlfriend was expecting his baby - how selfish!
Kelly Curtis
he might not have wanted the change from his daredevil life and not wanted a baby and staged an elaborate suicide.
Craig Allen
thats bad luck that is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Judy The-Duchess Binks
Some people think they are invincible. Feel sorry for the unborn child.
William Noble
Bloody fool
Jan N Andy Oakley-Hills
10:57am on 12/6/2012
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Ian Black
11:13am on 12/6/2012
why the idiot comment? what is wrong with you?
Tricky One
11:37am on 12/6/2012
Another idiotic reply. How droll.