The close-knit BASE-jumping community is mourning the death of Kylie "Buffy" Tanti, whose parachute failed to open Tuesday during a training jump from Alor Setar Tower in Malaysia.
Mainstream news reports are sparse but word of the incident is spreading on social media sites.
Tanti, 42, fell more than 500 feet and, according to reports, the Australian daredevil did not scream.
BASE jumping, or parachuting from stationary objects such as towers and cliffs, is illegal in many places and obviously dangerous.
On Tanti's Facebook page is a quotation from one of her tattoos: "One day, death is going to take the life from everything we love. So while you are able, love what you have."
Another reads: "Take one day at a time, and make a masterpiece of each of these days, for tomorrow is promised to no man."
It goes without saying, but I'll mention it anyway, that Buffy the BASE jumper was a thrill-seeker who lived for the moment and not life's long haul. She will be missed by her many friends.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Alor Setar Tower, courtesy of Wikipedia
Comments