CACHE COUNTY, Utah — A 27-year-old man with the Salt Lake City Fire Department died Sunday after falling about 700 feet during a wingsuit jump at Leetham’s Hollow, a popular climbing and jumping area in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, authorities said.
What officials say happened
Cache County deputies responding to the scene said the jumper, identified as Gabe Reilly, was part of a group that made a jump Sunday morning from an estimated 700-foot elevation. Deputies said the wingsuit did not generate sufficient lift and the jumper struck the ground at high speed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Something went wrong and he did not have enough lift with his wingsuit,” Cache County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Doyle Peck told local media outlets.
The incident is being treated as a tragic accident; no criminal activity was reported by authorities. The location, Leetham’s Hollow, is known among climbers and extreme-sport participants but also presents significant hazards because of steep terrain and limited emergency access.
Local ties and department statement
Reilly was a firefighter with the Salt Lake City Fire Department for four years. In a department statement released after the incident, colleagues remembered him for his personality and commitment to the community.
The department’s message said in part that Reilly was known for his “infectious smile, kind heartedness, and his free-spirited nature,” and that his dedication to the department and fellow firefighters would be remembered.
Context and broader risks
BASE jumping and wingsuit flying are widely acknowledged as high-risk activities. An online community-maintained BASE Fatality List, which tracks deaths associated with the sport globally, recorded 541 fatalities since 1981 and reported 15 deaths worldwide this year as of Sunday. The list is often cited by safety advocates and researchers who study extreme sports incidents.
Experts and land managers have long warned that remote jump sites pose additional dangers because of uneven landing zones, rapidly changing weather conditions and the difficulty of mounting timely search and rescue operations.
Practical information for outdoor users
Officials urge anyone who participates in extreme sports or visits remote recreation sites to take precautions. Recommended safety steps include:
- Never jumping alone; always have a qualified support team and communication plan.
- Carrying redundant safety systems and ensuring personal gear is maintained and inspected.
- Reviewing weather and wind conditions immediately before a jump.
- Knowing the limitations of the chosen site, including landing hazards and access for emergency responders.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Victim | Gabe Reilly, 27 |
| Location | Leetham’s Hollow, Cache County |
| Cause | Wingsuit failed to produce enough lift; high-speed impact |
Cache County law enforcement did not provide additional details about the incident timeline or an ongoing investigation into equipment failure. The federal U.S. Forest Service, which manages the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, did not immediately issue a comment Sunday.
Aftermath and community response
The Salt Lake City Fire Department’s public notice and social media posts following the death drew condolences from colleagues and community members. Reilly followed a family tradition of firefighting: his father also served the department for years, the department noted.
Search-and-rescue resources and local emergency crews frequently respond to incidents in the canyonlands and forested reaches of northern Utah, where steep cliffs and limited cell service complicate rescues. The death at Leetham’s Hollow is a reminder of the hazards that come with recreational use of these environments.
Authorities have not released information about any scheduled memorial or departmental observances. Anyone with direct information about the incident should contact the Cache County Sheriff’s Office.
This report will be updated as more information becomes available.
