The Hindu : International / Globescan : Eiffel tower stunt kills parachutist

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 19, 2005

International

International - Globescan

Eiffel tower stunt kills parachutist

PARIS: A Norwegian parachutist died after jumping from the second floor of the Eiffel tower when his chute snagged on the monument's superstructure, Paris police said on Tuesday. A police spokesman said the 31-year-old man, who was not named, was wearing a helmet containing a small video camera, trying to film his stunt for a TV commercial advertising a brand of Norwegian clothing. The spokesman said the man died at about 10 p.m. on Monday after jumping from the tower's 115-metre high second floor. ``His parachute got caught, he became detached from it, and he hit the first floor more than 50 metres below,'' the officer said. ``He died instantly.'' Police sources said two more Norwegians had been intercepted by private security guards earlier on Monday as they were making their way to the top of the 210-metre Montparnasse tower on the other side of Paris, apparently to prepare for a similar leap. The two ``base-jumpers'' — parachutists who jump from a fixed point rather than an aircraft — were being questioned, as were another two who had climbed the Eiffel tower with the jumper who later died, the police spokesman said. —

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