Gorm Irgens Østlie

This report comes from a local jumper to the area... Gorm and another jumper were on the exit ready to jump, both wearing wingsuits. They knew there was a Southeast wind in the area, but at the exit point there was no wind. Gorm wanted to see his fellow jumper's flight before he made up his mind about where his flight line would be. The other jumper never saw his jump, and there were no other witnesses on the ground. The scenario is just based on what I think happened. We knew Gorm had jumped off and flown a route to the right from exit, then either impacted or landed in a crack. He was missing for about 2 hours before something was located in a snow avalanche from the top of a mountain coming out of a crack. The rescue personnel scanned the area from helicopter when they arrived, and did see some fabric and a shoe sticking up of the snow. Due to the dangerous area, they decided not to take any further action, until the area was stabile. The snow avalanche was huge, and it was still coming down rocks and snow around in the area, also around in the valley. At this point they classified the situation as a body recover, and not a rescue operation, due to the time factor, and how they analyzed the situation. Two friends of his went later in the dark, to recover his body to a safer place, without informing the police, or rescue personnel. Later they got the body down with the police and help from search and rescue. Conclusion I have, and it is only what I think what happened. Gorm chose to fly a line to the right, after watching his friend fly straight out. We know there was Southeast wind, and this has a huge influence for this area. He might have flown proximity, and with this wind condition he would have met great turbulence along the mountainside that MIGHT have taken him out! Most local jumpers have heard about the SE winds in the area, but really do not understand the forces. I have been flying in them and truly recommend no jumping in those conditions.