Thrill-seeker Scot plunges to his death from 9,500ft Italian peak
A SCOTS daredevil has died while base-jumping from mountains in Italy.
Robert Haggarty was killed instantly as he smashed into a rock face only seconds after his parachute failed to open when he launched himself from the top of a 9,500ft peak in the Dolomites, north of Venice, on Sunday.
The 47-year-old Scot – originally from Dumfries but based in Andover, Hampshire – is understood to have been with a group of about 25 friends when he jumped in a wing-suit from the Monte Civetta range in the Veneto.
The alarm was raised by two climbers after they spotted Mr Haggarty plummeting 600ft. He reportedly deployed his parachute – but hit a rock wall and was killed on impact.
The Italian Alpine Rescue Service released pictures showing paramedics approaching the spot from which he had jumped.
A team of rescuers battled difficult conditions to reach Mr Haggarty’s body, which they managed to recover using a helicopter.
The incident happened after the experienced base-jumper and a group of his friends arrived on the 9,500ft Busazza mountain.
According to Italian police, it is possible that he took off too close to the rock face.
A spokesman said: ‘We were alerted by several witnesses who had seen the man get into trouble.
‘One theory is that he didn’t time his take-off well and was too close to the side of the mountain.
‘His body was recovered by a three-strong team and that was a very difficult operation, which involved lowering the body by harness 160ft.’
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed it was in contact with Mr Haggarty’s family.
A spokesman said: ‘We are providing advice and support to the family of a British man following his death in Italy and are in contact with the Italian authorities.’
Mr Haggarty’s employer, Schneider Electric, where he worked as an engineer, paid tribute to him.
It said: ‘We are devastated to hear the tragic news about one of our employees, Robert Haggarty, who died in a base-jumping accident in Italy over the weekend.
‘Robert will be deeply missed by all those that knew him. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.’
According to his Facebook profile, Mr Haggarty, who married his wife Joanna, 44, in 2010, travelled around the world to take part in the extreme sport.
He made a previous trip to Monte Brento in Italy in 2016. He was also pictured base-jumping in Sandnes in Norway and Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland.
He uploaded a video of himself base-jumping in Norway in 2013.
The Scot is the first base-jumper to die in the Dolomites this year. In 2017, an orthopaedic surgeon from Austria lost his life after jumping from the same mountain.
Base-jumping is the act of wingsuit flying or parachuting from a fixed structure or cliff, instead of a plane.
The word ‘BASE’ is an acronym that stands for four different fixed objects that people can jump from: Building, Antenna, Span and Earth (cliff).
It has a fatality and injury rate nearly 50 times higher than parachuting from an aircraft, making it one of the most dangerous sports in the world.
Base-jumpers who wear wingsuits are able to achieve speeds of up to 120mph before deploying a parachute and floating down to the ground.
According to local media reports, Mr Haggarty was staying at the Monti Pallidi Refuge in Canazei before the tragic incident took place.
A spokesman for the hotel said: ‘A gentleman who was staying here died base-jumping. This is all I can tell you.
‘The police came and took statements but there is nothing more I can say.’
Members of Mr Haggarty’s family in Dumfries were unavailable for comment last night.
‘Deeply missed by all who knew him’