SEATTLE, WA - Authorities in Seattle, Washington, are reportedly searching for two unidentified males who allegedly parachuted from the city’s Space Needle, an observation tower which stands over 600 feet.
Thrill-seeking appears to be spreading across the country as of late in the wake of a duo being arrested in New York City for a stunt involving scaling the Empire State Building earlier in July. Mere weeks later, police in Seattle are on the hunt for two of their own alleged daredevils who reportedly performed a BASE (Building, Antenna, Span and Earth) jump from the historic Space Needle.
Seattle Police officials say the unidentified suspects appeared to be two males who purchased tickets to enter the 605-foot attraction on July 24 minutes before 9 p.m., with the two reportedly making their way into a restroom in the top level of the tower where they emerged from wearing helmets.
Authorities say the two men then made their way over to the high glass windows of the observation deck, which said windows are open to the outside air at the peak, scaling the glass and jumping off before parachuting down. Security at the historical landmark were uncertain as to where the two men landed, with police being unable to locate the duo thereafter.
The two suspects were described as white males, possibly in their late 20s, with authorities saying they’re currently facing trespassing charges for the alleged stunt.
The Space Needle in Seattle has a history with BASE jumping, most notably the sanctioned event back in 1996 that was televised and reportedly didn’t go as planned for one of the performing jumpers. During the November 1996 event at the Space Needle, four trained jumpers leapt from the top of the tower, with Jessica Kluetmeier's jump going awry when her line became tangled with her parachute.
Miraculously, Kluetmeier survived the 520 foot drop where she was falling at an estimated speed of 65 miles per hour, suffering a fractured vertebra. Speaking from the hospital afterward, she told reporters she felt 'very, very lucky' to be alive.
Comments