Two men died Sunday in a BASE jumping accident at Mineral Bottom, a remote desert canyon area in Grand County, Utah, local authorities said. The victims were identified as Andrew Lewis, 39, a noted extreme athlete and Moab resident, and Danny Joe Kregle, who was in his 50s.

The Grand County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of the incident during the day and found both men at the scene. According to Sheriff Jamison Wiggins, Lewis and Kregle appeared to be engaged in a tandem BASE jump when the accident occurred. Kregle died on impact, while Lewis survived for about three hours before emergency personnel were unable to save him.

The circumstances leading to the crash are still under investigation, and officials have not disclosed the nature of the relationship between the two men. Mineral Bottom, known for its appeal to BASE jumpers and other adventure sports enthusiasts, is located about an hour from Moab and has limited cell service, making rescues particularly challenging. Law enforcement noted previous incidents in the area related to the sport.

Lewis was widely recognized for his accomplishments in extreme tightrope walking, slacklining, and tricklining. He rose to prominence for performing a high-profile routine during Madonna’s halftime show at the 2012 Super Bowl, where he executed acrobatic moves on a thin band suspended above the stage. In addition to his athletic achievements, Lewis operated BASE Jump Moab, an adventure company offering excursions including BASE jumping, hot air balloon rides, climbing, and guided rope swings.

Throughout his career, Lewis earned multiple titles, including being crowned the first slackline world champion in 2008 and reclaiming the title over the following three years. He also held the Guinness World Record for slackline surfing, a feat achieved by swaying repeatedly atop a narrow line stretched over a waterfall in China. Among his notable achievements was crossing a slackline suspended between two hot air balloons at more than 4,000 feet above the Nevada desert in 2014, placing him among the elite in the sport.

BASE jumping, which involves parachuting from fixed objects such as buildings, antennas, spans, and earth formations, is widely regarded as a high-risk activity. While there is no official global tally of fatalities, several deaths have occurred in popular locations including Yosemite and the Grand Canyon in recent years, often involving athletes known for pushing the limits in extreme sports.

Officials have not released additional details regarding the accident, and the investigation remains ongoing. Representatives from BASE Jump Moab had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday.