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The 200 meter high motorway bridge in Millau
Photo: Valery Inglebert / 500px / Getty Images
An extreme athlete has died in southern France after jumping from a 200 meter high motorway bridge.
The parachute of the 32-year-old so-called base jumper apparently did not open when jumping from the Millau viaduct, reported the broadcaster France 3. The man died on the spot.
The exact circumstances of the accident have yet to be determined.
Base jumping is parachuting from tall buildings, antennas, bridges, or rocks.
Some of the daring ones also wear a wing suit, a so-called wing suit.
Since extreme athletes had often jumped from the spectacular motorway bridge near Millau, this has been explicitly forbidden since the summer, and repeat offenders face a fine of 150 euros.
In response to the ban, base jumpers had started a petition with the aim of reaching an agreement with the Eiffage motorway operator, France 3 had reported.
The Millau Viaduct is the highest bridge in Europe.
bam/dpa