A 34-year-old Moab man was killed this week in a BASE jumping accident near the Goose Island Campground just north of town.
Seth F. Graham was alone at about 8:41 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, when he set off from the “G Spot,” a 320-foot cliff above the recreation site.
Grand County Sheriff’s Lt. Kim Neal said that a Canyonlands by Night employee was leading a boat tour along the Colorado River and was pointing out a rock formation when he saw Graham, who waved to the tourists down below.
Witnesses reported that Graham then jumped from the cliff. His parachute’s canopy opened, but for reasons that are currently unknown, Neal said that Graham struck a rock about two-thirds of the way down, and his parachute then dragged him down a talus slope.
Grand County Emergency Medical Services, Grand County Search and Rescue and the Grand County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, which is located off state Route 128 about 1 mile east of the junction with U.S. Highway 191.
A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter crew recovered Graham’s body on the morning of Wednesday, May 31. His body was later transported from Spanish Valley Mortuary to the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner in Salt Lake City.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
