BFL
Brazilian

BFL285 · 5.6.2016

Fernando Brito

42-Year-Old Brazilian

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BASE seasons

BASE jumps

WS BASE jumps

Skydives

WS skydives

Incident

Incident category:
BASE Fatality
ID:
BFL285
Object:
Earth
Cause of death:
Impact subterminal (near exit)
Date:
05. 06. 2016
Time:
17:00
Exit point:
Brazil › Rio de Janiero › Gavea

Other incidents at this location: BFL401, BFL471

Exit type:
Short Start

Personal

Name:
Fernando Brito
Gender:
Male
Nationality:
Brazilian
Age:
42
Experience:

Equipment & Setup

Canopy:
Canopy size:
Container:
Suit:
Phoenix-Fly › Vampire Race
Packing:
Slider Up
Deployment:
BOC

Circumstances

Weather:
Medium winds
Factors:
Strong winds Unstable exit Crosswinds on exit

Description

From what we know Brito arrived at 02:00pm at exit point with another SD jumper. Brito was flying his VRACE and had several jumps on it. They waited at the top approximately for 2 hours because it was too windy. They decided to jump and briefing was a 2 way where Brito exiting a few seconds later would do a flyby at his friend under canopy. But Brito didn't exit and his friend called him from landing. He said winds got gusty and that he would wait. After 15 min he sends a message saying he was exiting in 3 min. After 10 min his friend called and there was no answer. We found his body the next day, hiking because weather became too bad for choppers. He was about 200mts below exit. Camera (selfie mounted) was found 2 days after but just now I saw the video. It looks like he SLIPPED.
After the push, less than a sencond after, he's in a 45 degree bank to the LEFT (opposite side of the line); then about 2 seconds after he's kicking and struggling not to turn on his back as he's at a 90 degree bank. He does not barrel, but recovers, already facing north (line is to the south) and continues to turn left till he finishes the whole 270 and tries to fly away. Video stops seconds before impact. Winds were visible on the grass at the exit, possibly moderate. But I don't think he would have made it even with perfect conditions, just may opinion. He used to exit with his right foot in front. He would advance his right foot and push, in a 2 moves exit. He probably stepped at his legwing and lost grip at his right foot.


Lesson here is very simple. Today’s big suits do not allow this kind of exit. I called it DYNAMIC EXIT, if there’s another name please correct me. EXITING SHOULD BE ONE MOVE. If you want to exit with one foot ahead, just place it ahead, make sure it’s clear of the legwing and THEN exit.
Brito had aprox 320 jumps from Gavea alone. He was simply the best of the brazilian crew. An amazingly positive and kind person that hosted a whole lot of people from everywhere at his place. He will be deeply missed, specially by the brazilian community.
Thanks for respecting Brito, OPSMA
Yuri

Gavea is a 6sec rock drop jump and we are very pleased to share information about it with anyone that shows up, so please ask.

Gallery

Lost, but not forgotten...