Search suspended for skydiver missing near Mount Si
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NORTH BEND, Wash. - The search for a skydiver who vanished Thursday during a jump above Washington's Cascade foothills has been suspended, officials said.
Rescue crews spent their fourth straight day Sunday looking for 29-year-old Kurt Ruppert of Lake City, Fla., but found no sign of him by dusk.
King County sheriff's Sgt. Cindi West said over the past four days, 386 volunteers from 19 different agencies have searched an area of about nine square miles for the missing man. The Sheriff’s Office helicopter also spent three days searching from the air.
In addition, searchers also extensively combed a quarter-mile square area that they said was a “potential” area based on cell phone and the helicopter flight path data.
The Sheriff’s Office said they have completed searching the areas that could be reached on foot. There are cliff areas that can't be searched due to the extreme risk to searchers. The Sheriff’s Office said they will search those areas by helicopter when weather permits.
Ruppert hasn't been seen since he jumped out of a helicopter at 6,500 feet Thursday afternoon, wearing a special wing suit with fabric under the arms to allow him to glide like a flying squirrel.
He was skydiving with two friends, and they were taking turns jumping from the helicopter. The friends were waiting at a grassy landing area, but no one saw whether Ruppert's chute deployed.
Rescue crews spent their fourth straight day Sunday looking for 29-year-old Kurt Ruppert of Lake City, Fla., but found no sign of him by dusk.
King County sheriff's Sgt. Cindi West said over the past four days, 386 volunteers from 19 different agencies have searched an area of about nine square miles for the missing man. The Sheriff’s Office helicopter also spent three days searching from the air.
In addition, searchers also extensively combed a quarter-mile square area that they said was a “potential” area based on cell phone and the helicopter flight path data.
The Sheriff’s Office said they have completed searching the areas that could be reached on foot. There are cliff areas that can't be searched due to the extreme risk to searchers. The Sheriff’s Office said they will search those areas by helicopter when weather permits.
Ruppert hasn't been seen since he jumped out of a helicopter at 6,500 feet Thursday afternoon, wearing a special wing suit with fabric under the arms to allow him to glide like a flying squirrel.
He was skydiving with two friends, and they were taking turns jumping from the helicopter. The friends were waiting at a grassy landing area, but no one saw whether Ruppert's chute deployed.
Sounds like they are looking for a corpse at this point. Â Sad.
Is there a map somewhere that might give a clue where to look? If someone had time on their hands and wanted to go for a hike, it would be good to know. It seems like the best bet would be to send one of his buddies back up there and see if he can follow the same path, minus the crashing part. They must have had a planned flightpath, right?
Rocky lawn darted in call it a day. At least he wnet out doing what he liked. Yelling and screaming is not for me though.
I hate to say it, but it would seem all hope is lost. Bummer, I was hoping for a differant outcome. Peace & Prayers to the family and friends and hats off to a man who refused to let others have all the fun.
A *midnight* jump?! That was...not a good idea in this terrain. Â Don't know what else I can do, but shake my head. What a bummer for his family.
@cuzsis A real bummer would be living a life without adventure... A real bummer would be wasting a life working a 9-5 job in a cubicle. Those are the people I shake my head at, not the adventurous wing suit pilot who was just doing what he loves.
 @goodvibesjumper  @cuzsis There are all sorts of adventures you can have in your life. Working 9-5 in a cube just makes them that much better. :)Â
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As for me, I've always maintained that jumping from an aircraft is what you do when it is on fire and you are going to die if you don't.Â
@goodvibesjumper That's a sick picture on your FB profile......beyond cool.
It was not at midnight. He jumped at midnight on New Year's eve...in Florida.
I think it's time to lay down judgement and have some compassion with the family, friends, and fellow skydivers that day. SAR has come out in force, given everything in trying to find and bring him home. The vast majority of SAR people enjoy the outdoors just like Kurt and they put their lives on the line without judging. My condolences to the family, friends, and skydivers.Â
It does not sound like he made it alive. I am so sorry for his relatives and all, but that is really thickly wooded rugged country. If his chute did not deploy, the hope of even finding his remains would seem to be slim. The best hope would be to find his chute hung up in some trees as a marker. Â
 @oldster70 - based the first stories,he didn't use a regular chute. Instead he used the ones that are similar to a flying squirrel. Plus the fact it was brown and green,similar to the terrain makes it more difficult, This is an unfortunate event and I feel for his family.
 @Alicia Taylor  @oldster70 He was wearing a wingsuit (jumpsuit with fabric between the arms and legs).  That is different than the parachute.
Hi Al, sorry, I should have been more clear. Â The "flying squirrel" wingsuit is a jumpsuit that is worn from the time the jumper leaves the aircraft (or cliff) until they land. Â A jumpsuit is basically a piece of clothing, but modifications can be added (such as "wings") to alter the way the jumper falls/glides. Â The parachute is packed into a container worn on the back of the jumper until the jumper deploys the parachute.
Family, friends and loved ones should never peruse the comments of a story that concerns the loss of a loved one.  It's happened to me with a distant relative and it's hard to read even from that perspective.  I can't imagine if it had been someone close.  It's always different when it's someone you love.  So sorry for this loss -- my condolences to everyone who knew and loved him.
Oh, and don't forget to voice your opinion over something that impacts you "directly"... we'd REALLY like to hear it. You know, for the sake of those (us) who actually DO care. In fact, I invite you to express your anger (I mean... why else would you be complaining and bantering about a complete stranger) toward someone else's lifestyle. No is your chance to moderate your own soap box :)
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Sheep... Every last one of you.
 @Ryan Starr If not being willing to jump out of an airplane makes me a sheep, then BAA. I'll get my thrills in a safer fashion, which doesn't NOT make me any less than you! Each of us chooses our own enjoyment & what we choose is neither better nor worse than anyone else's choices.
If this man was a friend (or family) of yours, I am sorry for your loss but don't belittle the rest of us because he was lost while doing something of his choosing.
But these Sheep are still alive, sitting on our couches, enjoying our 7-layer dip and celebrating a fantastic Seahawks win. GO HAWKS!!!!!!! Now this team can fly!!
I am afraid he has worked himself into a small crack in the rock face somewhere and will likely never be found. I hope that particular thrill was worth it......... Time for the rescue/recovery folks to stop risking their lives and let this one go into the history books as unaccounted for.
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sorry for your loss.
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@Dylandawg You've said enough! Be sensitive and be quite, please.
@Ryan Starr Just ignore them. He has displayed his lack of humanity, it is obvious to all. Sorry for your loss.
at least he died doing what he loved.
Yes, that's what counts afterall. Lots of people love smoking too, and if they die from it...........well...it's what they loved.
 @Dylandawg I survived quadruple bypass and most of the damage was caused by cigarettes. Trust me when I say that "thrill and pleasure" are never worth it if it kills you. At least in this young mans case I suspect he was over with before he knew it.
4 days and still no sign of him. Not sure how warm a squirrel suit is. I just hope they find him for the sake of him and his loved ones. Stay strong
Skydiving at midnight in a squirrel suit? If they find him alive he needs to get checked in to a mental institution.
@justinsane He was not skydiving at night, It was mid morning.
 @Robarts in Florida  @justinsane Check your facts again fact-checkers. Komo changed the story...it previously said they made a midnight jump shortly after midnight on new year's eve.
@justinsane Read the story, they were not jumping at night on this day.
 @burmesepythondude  @justinsane But still, even in perfect weather a squirrel suit is probably not a good idea in that terrain.Â
Unfortunate, I doubt he could still be alive due to the elements after this amount of time. And for the folks posting about this being his own fault, go back to riding your couch. Wingsuits are a lot of fun, and skydiving has nothing to do about being reckless...greatest freedom you can find and is acutally about as safe as you make it. Probably the best and most diverse group of people you will meet: from your trailer rats to doctos, law enforcment, mother, fathers and yes even jumped w/the grand parents.
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I'm sure this is agonizing for family and friends...so try to not to post a message that proves how stupid yoy really are.
@burmesepythondude If flying around Mt. Si in a "squirrel suit" is so safe, then why is he dead? It's not safe at all...especially when you decided to buzz around cliffs, tree's just barely missing them all for the sake of making a "cool" Go Pro video.
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My heart goes out to Kurt and his family, but it's important for everyone to know that he brought this on himself, due to his reckless behavior.
 @Dylandawg  @burmesepythondude You don't know what happened, it's entirely possible that he had a malfunction that would have resulted in the same outcome had it occurred over a farm field.  You can do everything right in this sport and still have a problem.  Just because you don't understand this sport doesn't mean it is reckless.
Despite the economy, this is still a great country. Look at what they are doing for one reckless man.Â
 @Lone Wolf not reckless. Just enjoying himself. Or as reckless as the first climbers of the North Face. Just because you don't do it or understand it, it's not reckless.Â
I hate to say it but I think he's a mountain lion snack by now.
 @Ankle Biter I hate to read it but your probably right.
It is impressive how many volunteers are spending multiple days searching for this missing skydiver. It is good news wrapped in worrisome news. and keeps alive my faith in humanity.Â
Thank you once again to everyone out looking for Kurt.
You'd think that they would have used infared cameras by now if they haven't been already.
@lakeview The Police helicopter that has IFR had an accident last week and can't fly. It's the only one with it.
 @NB1969 @lakeview the FLIR is of limited use in such a large search area or in heavily wooded areas. If the other helicopter was up, it would have also been conducting a visual search.
bla bla bla insurance for extreme sports... bla bla bla stay on your damn couch... bla bla bla pay for your own rescue... bla bla bla...no rescue from car crashes... bla bla bla... this is Bush's fault... bla bla bla... no it's Obama's fault... Does that about cover it for everyone?
@TruthinAdverts Not quite. Squirrel suits should be banned, or at least taxed so much that it makes them unaffordable. GO HAWKS!!