A Utah newlywed died in a freak accident when her parachute failed to fully open during a weekend BASE jump in Utah as her horrified husband of just two weeks looked on.
Amber Marie Bellows, 28, of Salt Lake City died Saturday and her body was retrieved Sunday morning, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Bellows, an experienced practitioner of the extreme sport, and her hubby Clayton Butler, 29, had climbed Mount Kinesava in Zion National Park, where jumping is strictly forbidden, a spokesman for the National Park Service said.
Bellows jumped at about 4 p.m., but her chute didn’t open properly and she plummeted about 2,000 feet to her death.
“It is just really sad and our condolences go out to her family and friends,” park Superintendent Jim Milestone said in a statement. “BASE jumping is so dangerous. Even for those that are experienced, like Amber Bellows. That is one of the reasons it is not allowed in the park.”
BASE stands for building, antenna, span and earth.
Butler jumped after her but told authorities he had no way of helping her.
He then had to hike for about four hours before he could contact authorities about what happened.
Instead of trying to retrieve her body in the dark, rescuers decided to wait until Sunday to find her.
It was the first time anyone died BASE jumping at the park, Zion spokeswoman Aly Baltrus said.
Bellows was well-known in the Utah skydiving community, and pals grieved over the loss.
Mount Kinesava is about 3,000 feet from top to bottom, with a 1,000 foot sheer cliff on the side facing east.