Australian man, 42, dies in BASE jumping accident in Italy
James Nowland, 42, died in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy's north east on Wednesday with investigators suspecting there was a technical issue with his parachute.
The Perth man crashed into a road 400m above his intended landing site after jumping from the summit of Sass Pordoi, a plateau popular for BASE jumping.
A helicopter and a mountain rescue team were deployed after being alerted by a group of Australians Mr Nowland was with, but they were unable to revive him.
Investigators suspect a technical issue prevented Mr Nowland's parachute from opening in time.
'We tried to do our best to save (him)... there was nothing to do for him,' rescuer Andrea Dorigatti told 7NEWS.
'I asked the friends and they told me that the problem was with the parachute that didn't get open.'
Mr Nowland was taking part in the Pordoi BASE Race, a competition where BASE jumpers try to get the fastest time between the summit of Sass Pordoi and the finish line at the bottom of the mountain.
In a tribute shared to Facebook, Mr Nowland's brother Adrian said, 'Hope you're soaring through the clouds doing what you love forever.'
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The grieving wife of a Perth BASE jumper who died in an accident in the Italian Dolomites has paid tribute to her husband, saying 'his family meant everything to him'. James Lee Nowland crashed on Wednesday after jumping from prominent rocky peak Sass Pordoi in the Dolomites near the South Tyrolean, Italian news agency ANSA reported. His wife, Candice Nowland, revealed in a statement that James was a family man and respected athlete. 'James was a greatly respected member of the BASE jumping community, having done the sport for over 10 years,' she said. 'His family meant everything to him.' The 42-year-old crashed along a hairpin bend road, at an altitude of about 1,700 metres and 400 metres above the landing point, according to alpine rescue services. Investigators suspect Mr Nowland's parachute didn't open in time due to a technical issue. The group of fellow Australians he was with alerted the rescue services. A mountain rescue team and a helicopter were deployed but he could not be revived. His self-proclaimed 'Australian family' started a GoFundMe on Friday to 'bring James home' to his wife and two young daughters. 'It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the sudden and devastating loss of our beloved weapon father, work mate, all round legend James who passed away tragically while overseas,' fundraiser organiser Damian Harris wrote. 'James was more than just family and a mate – his presence lit up every room, and their absence now leaves a space no words can fill. 'We are creating this GoFundMe to help cover the unexpected costs of bringing James home to his family to support his girls left behind. 'Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly towards ensuring we can honour James's memory in the way they truly deserve.' Before the fatal accident, Mr Nowland had shared a video on his social media of a group preparing for the Pordoi BASE Race — a wingsuit race among people competing to become the fastest in the world. The competition, which was running from July 16 to July 18, sees racers jump from the top of Sass Pordoi and fly as fast as they can down the mountain to the finish line. Adrian Nowland shared a heartfelt tribute to his brother alongside a picture of them together in the snow in British Columbia. 'Rest in peace brother! Wish we had more times like this together,' he said. 'Hope you're soaring through the clouds doing what you love forever.' BASE jumping refers to the extreme sport of jumping off elevated fixed objects using parachutes or wingsuits, with the word an acronym for building, antenna, span and earth. BASE jumping is illegal in Australia, specifically in national parks and on private property without permission.
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Friends of experienced Perth BASE jumper who died after crashing onto the road in a suspected accident in the Italian Dolomites have started a fundraiser to bring him home to his wife and kids. James Lee Nowland crashed on Wednesday after jumping from prominent rocky peak Sass Pordoi in the Dolomites near the South Tyrolean, Italian news agency ANSA reported. The 42-year-old crashed along a hairpin bend road, at an altitude of about 1,700 metres and 400 metres above the landing point, according to alpine rescue services. Investigators suspect Mr Nowland's parachute didn't open in time due to a technical issue. The group of fellow Australians he was with alerted the rescue services. A mountain rescue team and a helicopter were deployed but he could not be revived. His self-proclaimed 'Australian family' started a GoFundMe on Friday to 'bring James home' to his wife and two young daughters. 'It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the sudden and devastating loss of our beloved weapon father, work mate, all round legend James who passed away tragically while overseas,' fundraiser organiser Damian Harris wrote. 'James was more than just family and a mate – his presence lit up every room, and their absence now leaves a space no words can fill. 'We are creating this GoFundMe to help cover the unexpected costs of bringing James home to his family to support his girls left behind. 'Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly towards ensuring we can honour James's memory in the way they truly deserve.' Before the fatal accident, Mr Nowland had shared a video on his social media of a group preparing for the Pordoi BASE Race — a wingsuit race among people competing to become the fastest in the world. The competition, which was running from July 16 to July 18, sees racers jump from the top of Sass Pordoi and fly as fast as they can down the mountain to the finish line. Adrian Nowland shared a heartfelt tribute to his brother alongside a picture of them together in the snow in British Columbia. 'Rest in peace brother! Wish we had more times like this together,' he said. 'Hope you're soaring through the clouds doing what you love forever.' BASE jumping refers to the extreme sport of jumping off elevated fixed objects using parachutes or wingsuits, with the word an acronym for building, antenna, span and earth. BASE jumping is illegal in Australia, specifically in national parks and on private property without permission.
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Friends of experienced Perth BASE jumper who died after crashing onto the road in a suspected accident in the Italian Dolomites have started a fundraiser to bring him home to his wife and kids. James Lee Nowland crashed on Wednesday after jumping from prominent rocky peak Sass Pordoi in the Dolomites near the South Tyrolean, Italian news agency ANSA reported. The 42-year-old crashed along a hairpin bend road, at an altitude of about 1,700 metres and 400 metres above the landing point, according to alpine rescue services. Investigators suspect Mr Nowland's parachute didn't open in time due to a technical issue. The group of fellow Australians he was with alerted the rescue services. BASE jumper James Nowland has died in Italy James Nowland Credit: James Nowland / Instagram A mountain rescue team and a helicopter were deployed but he could not be revived. His self-proclaimed 'Australian family' started a GoFundMe on Friday to 'bring James home' to his wife and two young daughters. 'It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the sudden and devastating loss of our beloved weapon father, work mate, all round legend James who passed away tragically while overseas,' fundraiser organiser Damian Harris wrote. 'James was more than just family and a mate – his presence lit up every room, and their absence now leaves a space no words can fill. 'We are creating this GoFundMe to help cover the unexpected costs of bringing James home to his family to support his girls left behind. 'Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly towards ensuring we can honour James's memory in the way they truly deserve.' Investigators suspect Mr Nowland's parachute didn't open in time due to a technical issue. Credit: James Nowland / Instagram Before the fatal accident, Mr Nowland had shared a video on his social media of a group preparing for the Pordoi BASE Race — a wingsuit race among people competing to become the fastest in the world. The competition, which was running from July 16 to July 18, sees racers jump from the top of Sass Pordoi and fly as fast as they can down the mountain to the finish line. Adrian Nowland shared a heartfelt tribute to his brother alongside a picture of them together in the snow in British Columbia. BASE jumper James Nowland with his brother Adrian (right). Credit: James Nowland / Instagram 'Rest in peace brother! Wish we had more times like this together,' he said. 'Hope you're soaring through the clouds doing what you love forever.' BASE jumping refers to the extreme sport of jumping off elevated fixed objects using parachutes or wingsuits, with the word an acronym for building, antenna, span and earth. BASE jumping is illegal in Australia, specifically in national parks and on private property without permission.
