Parachutist dies in Norway

20/07/2005 - 19:02:24
An Australian parachutist fell 1,000 metres to his death when he jumped off a mountain in Norway and his parachute failed to open, police said today.

The accident happened yesterday at the Kjerag peak, a popular destination for Base jumping parachutists.

The man, whose name was not released, was in his 30s and lived in Norway, police told Norwegian news agency ANB.

Base - an acronym for Building, Antenna, Span, Earth - refers to parachuting from fixed objects such as towers, bridges and cliffs.

Since 1994, nine jumpers, including three Australians, have lost their lives at Kjerag.