At about 2:45 p.m. on July 6, a Garmin SOS activation alerted the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and local search and rescue to an individual who had reportedly fallen 150 feet to 200 feet in remote terrain. As unbelievable as it might sound, the rescue subject would ultimately walk out of the backcountry on his own two feet in a situation that the sheriff would say displayed a “profound lack of respect.”

The incident unfolded about six miles south-southeast of Bridal Veil Falls near Telluride, involving a 31-year-old man from Grand Junction. The man was partaking in the extreme sport of BASE jumping at the time of the incident, and when his parachute failed to open properly, he went crashing to the ground. He initially reported via the SOS alert that he had broken his leg.

Search and rescue teams mobilized into the area with a medical helicopter deployed, as well. Personnel with the San Miguel County Search and Rescue ground team were the first on the scene, arriving to find the man walking around. The man, reportedly a member of a search and rescue team in another region, told the rescuers that he was experienced in the sport of BASE jumping, as well as that he was in the backcountry alone at the time of the incident.

In a shocking turn of events, the man then told rescuers that he no longer wanted search and rescue assistance or medical helicopter transport. He ultimately descended from the scene on foot with a friend who hiked into the area following the incident, also while under observation of San Juan County Search and Rescue personnel.

At that point, the San Miguel County Search and Rescue team started the long trip back to Bridal Veil Falls. They were out of the field by 10 p.m. and the mission was concluded at 11:30 p.m.

Per a report from the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office, the individual who had called for rescue after the BASE jumping crash had previously required an extensive search and rescue response in the Swiss Alps about 10 years ago. In that incident, he was stranded for 13 hours with the response involving close to two dozen rescuers and three helicopters. Media reports indicate his $161 insurance policy covered the $175,000 cost of that rescue.

“Our SAR team consists of skilled professionals who risk their own lives to help others in need,” Sheriff Dan Covault said. “This individual chose to participate in an extremely dangerous activity alone, and particularly given his prior rescue history, his actions demonstrated a disregard for the risks involved and the resources required to rescue him. His decisions unnecessarily diverted emergency resources, including a Care Flight helicopter, that may have been needed for other emergencies. The fact that he was able to hike back down shows a profound lack of respect for the tremendous effort and resources devoted to this rescue.”

The sheriff’s office thanked San Miguel County and San Juan County search and rescue personnel who responded, also sharing the following statement: “I share your frustration with the outcome of this mission and with the time and effort dedicated to one individual who, as a SAR member himself, should have known better.”

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