Gareth Jones death: British base jumper dies in cliff fall accident

He had recently jumped from the 420m Menara Tower in Kuala Lumpur

Tributes have been paid to British base jumper Gareth Jones, who died after slipping off a 300ft cliff in Sydney (Rex)

Tributes have been paid to a British base jumper who died after slipping off a 300ft cliff in Sydney.

The victim, Gareth Jones, 25, fell as he tried to get a better view of a sunrise during an outing with friends, police said. A friend said he was a “wild child” who “made every moment more fun”. Mr Jones, from Brighton, was a professional base jumper – the activity that involves thrill-seekers leaping from buildings and cliffs before opening a parachute. He recently jumped from the Menara Tower in Kuala Lumpur, which at 420m is 30m higher than London’s Shard skyscraper.

Mr Jones was with four friends who witnessed the tragedy shortly before 7am yesterday at North Head near Manly. He apparently climbed over a safety barrier, police said.

Inspector Nigel Taylor added: “When they returned to the lookout, the young fella has gone to have a closer look and fallen over the edge.”

He plunged onto a rock platform below and two of his friends climbed down to try to save him. But they could not revive him.