Page—On Friday, January 24, 2014 at 5:30 pm Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies received a report of a possible base jumping fatality near the confluence of the Little Colorado River and main Colorado River channel. Friends of the base jumper waiting on the canyon floor reported him missing after he attempted a second jump from the canyon edge. After hiking out of the canyon they were able to see their missing friend approximately 2000 feet from the top of the canyon. Stather was using a popular wing suit and parachute worn by many jumpers in the sport.

Attempts to reach a 41 year old David Stather of Calgary, Canada by helicopter that evening were not possible due to darkness and lack of visibility. On Saturday, January 25 an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter assisted Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Search and Rescue in locating Stather. He was confirmed deceased from his injuries due to a fall trauma. Stather was air lifted from the canyon.

David Stather was a well-known and respected respiratory therapist and surgeon at the Alberta Health Center in Canada. He is survived by his parents who reside in Guelph in the Ontario Province of Canada.

This incident is currently under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.