Dean Potter, extreme athlete and one of the world's top died with his friend, Graham Hunt while they attempted a BASE jump in the Yosemite National Park. Dean Potter and Hunt jumped on a 7,500-foot wingsuit flight from Taft Point overlooking Yosemite Valley and El Captain on Saturday night.
The bodies of Dean Potter, 43, and Hunt, 29, were spotted on separate locations after helicopter search was launched on Sunday. The spotter of the two reported lost of contact with the duo and immediately contacted Yosemite Park officials. Dean Potter and Hunt were supposed to meet their spotter around 9 p.m. on Saturday.
"I can't emphasize enough how tragic this is," Yosemite Park, Scott Gediman said. "Dean just loved Yosemite. He loved the park and everything it stood for."
BASE jumping is prohibited in Yosemite Park.
Outside Online reported that upon receiving notification that Dean Potter and Hunt had been missing, the Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) right away started a speedy search to locate the pair the same night. On Sunday morning, rescue team composing of 100 people was called to help search Dean Potter and Hunt.
Experts and investigators can't believe the fate that struck Dean Potter and Hunt who were known for their extreme climbing- rock climbing, slack lining and BASE jumping. There were speculations according to LA Times that their parachutes were not deployed leading to Dean Potter and Hunt death.
Dean Potter, a New Hampshire native known as Dark Wizard, was notorious for his exceptional death-defying solo ascents and BASE jumping with his dog, Whisper.
In 2006, Dean Potter went for free solo climb at Delicate Arch in Utah that put him under the fire and made sponsor Patagonia to cancel their sponsorship with him and his girlfriend.
Dean Potter didn't stop making name in the world of extreme sports that in 2008, he made record of sport free-basing with only using a parachute in his back and climbed 5.12 Deep Blue Sea route on 13,020-foot Eiger in Switzerland.
Dean Potter was also the first person to climb Half Dome and El Capitan in less than 24 hours. Dean Potter set a record of without using anything, but only his hands and feet and ropes.
The following years, through his journey and love for extreme sports, Dean Potter has been subjected to controversies including staying in Yosemite Park for over the allowable stay of two weeks and for breaking a head of Broccoli in a Yosemite store.
In 2014, the 6-foot-5 Dean Potter started his journey with his miniature Australian cattle dog, Whisper. Dean Potter also created a film called, "When Dogs Fly" where his pooch was seen wearing goggles during their death-defying climbs.
Patricia Dellert, Dean Potter mother claimed that his passion for extreme climbing started at a very young age during his father's stint as U.S. army colonel that took them to Jordan. Dean Potter showed his exceptional skill at the age of five by climbing their Jordanian home's stone wall.
Dean Potter earned the reputation as one of Yosemite's great climbers when he was in his 20s.
Dean Potter was survived by his longtime partner, Jennifer Rapp, her three children and his dog.
