MACON, Ga. -- A Georgia man is dead following a risky jump from a bridge in Idaho.
Richard Heaton, III of Macon successfully parachuted off the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho but authorities believe the 27-year-old died of exposure trying to hike out of the Snake River Canyon.
Heaton's girlfriend reported him missing Friday morning, after not hearing from him on Thursday. Officials said they checked Heaton's hotel room and found all of his personal items but no parachute gear.
Searchers found his body Friday.
A BASE jumper who operates a Web site for enthusiasts, Tom Aiello, told the Times-News that it was only Heaton's third jump ever.
In a Web site posting, Heaton's girlfriend in Georgia, identified only as Jill, gave the following account:
"I spoke with Richard late Wednesday night from Perrine Bridge," Jill wrote on the BASEjumper.com site. "He was too excited to wait 'till Thursday during the day, and told me he would make the jump. He never called back ..." She also wrote, "His phone records indicate that he never made, or received, any calls after my conversation with him Wed night.
In another posting on the BASEjumper.com site, Aiello said, "Never having jumped this site, it is unlikely that Richard knew the trail to climb out."
BASE stands for bridge, antennae, span and earth. The Perrine Bridge is the only structure in the U.S. where BASE jumping is legal year-round. The Perrine Bridge is one of the world's most frequented BASE jump sites.
Richard Heaton, III of Macon successfully parachuted off the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho but authorities believe the 27-year-old died of exposure trying to hike out of the Snake River Canyon.
Heaton's girlfriend reported him missing Friday morning, after not hearing from him on Thursday. Officials said they checked Heaton's hotel room and found all of his personal items but no parachute gear.
Searchers found his body Friday.
A BASE jumper who operates a Web site for enthusiasts, Tom Aiello, told the Times-News that it was only Heaton's third jump ever.
In a Web site posting, Heaton's girlfriend in Georgia, identified only as Jill, gave the following account:
"I spoke with Richard late Wednesday night from Perrine Bridge," Jill wrote on the BASEjumper.com site. "He was too excited to wait 'till Thursday during the day, and told me he would make the jump. He never called back ..." She also wrote, "His phone records indicate that he never made, or received, any calls after my conversation with him Wed night.
In another posting on the BASEjumper.com site, Aiello said, "Never having jumped this site, it is unlikely that Richard knew the trail to climb out."
BASE stands for bridge, antennae, span and earth. The Perrine Bridge is the only structure in the U.S. where BASE jumping is legal year-round. The Perrine Bridge is one of the world's most frequented BASE jump sites.
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