Extreme athlete Andy Lewis and Arizona resident Danny Joe Kregle died during a jump near Moab.
MOAB, Utah — Two men died June 14 during a tandem BASE jump in the remote Mineral Bottom area of Grand County, including Andy Lewis, a well-known extreme athlete who performed during Madonna’s 2012 Super Bowl halftime show.
Authorities identified the men as Lewis, 39, of Moab, and Danny Joe Kregle, 68, of Arizona. The deaths drew grief from the adventure sports community and renewed attention to the risks of BASE jumping, a sport in which jumpers parachute from fixed objects such as cliffs, bridges and buildings.
Emergency crews were sent Sunday to Mineral Bottom after a report of injuries during a BASE jumping attempt in a canyon area near Moab. Deputies, emergency medical workers, search-and-rescue crews and medical helicopters responded to the remote site. Officials said both men died from injuries suffered during the jump. Grand County Sheriff Jamison Wiggins later confirmed Kregle’s identity after Lewis had already been named publicly.
The men were making a tandem jump, meaning they were harnessed together under one parachute system. Reports from officials and local outlets said the jump took place from a cliff in the Mineral Bottom area, a rugged desert setting west of Moab and near Canyonlands National Park. Investigators have not released a final report explaining exactly what went wrong. Officials have not said whether wind, equipment, timing or another factor caused the fatal impact.
Lewis, known in the extreme sports world as “Sketchy Andy,” was a pioneer in slacklining, tricklining, highlining and BASE jumping. He gained a wider audience in 2012 when he bounced and flipped on a slackline during Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime show. Before that, he had built a reputation as a top competitor, winning world titles and setting records in slackline events. He later operated BASE Jump Moab, a company that offered tandem BASE jumping experiences.
Kregle’s family described him as a husband, father, grandfather, businessman and lifelong thrill seeker. Relatives said he had skydiving experience and had long wanted to try a tandem BASE jump. Family members remembered his humor, love of boxing, travel and magic tricks, especially with his granddaughter. Kelley Kregle, his wife, said the family did not plan legal action and was focused on mourning him.
Friends and athletes also mourned Lewis as a major figure in Moab’s outdoor community. Aerial Arts Moab described him as a co-owner and close friend. BASE jumping instructor John McEvoy said Lewis had “an incredible level of athleticism and skill” from years of practice, while also noting that Lewis often accepted high levels of risk. Other athletes said Lewis helped push slacklining and highlining into wider public view.
BASE jumping is considered more dangerous than standard skydiving because jumpers start closer to the ground and have less time to correct problems. Tandem BASE jumping adds another layer because two people are connected during the jump. Supporters say it can allow newcomers to experience the sport with an expert guide. Critics say the risk remains high, especially in canyon terrain where wind, rock walls and short flight time leave little room for error.
No criminal allegations have been announced. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office has said the case remains under review, and officials have not given a date for final findings. For now, the investigation centers on the fatal jump at Mineral Bottom and the unanswered question of why the parachute system did not carry both men safely to the ground.
As of Monday, authorities had not announced new enforcement action or a public hearing tied to the deaths. Families, friends and fellow athletes continued to post tributes while investigators reviewed the circumstances of the June 14 accident.
Author note: Last updated June 22, 2026.