Life As A BASE Jumper: Shaun Walters Arrested For Parachuting In Chicago, But Will Jump Again (VIDEO)

Earlier this month, 44-year-old Shaun Walters parachuted from the 25-story skeleton of the uncompleted Waterview Tower and Shangri-La Hotel on Wacker Drive in Chicago.

When he reached the ground, he was greeted by an "amused, yet firm" Chicago police officer and subsequently charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct, according to the Chicago Tribune. Though he faces up to one year in prison for his jump, he told the paper it won't stop him from jumping again.

"I can't resist it," Walters said. "It's not just the jump, it's the whole process. Everything in your mind is telling you not to let go, and you have to overcome that fear."

The Tribune shared some details about Walters' hobby of choice:

Nonchalance defines Walters, who is part of a small and elusive thrill-seeking community of BASE jumpers who travel the world in search of objects from which to leap. Their name comes from the objects they seek -- buildings, antennas, spans (bridges) and earth (usually cliffs).

Drawn by pleasant weather and scores of tall buildings, BASE jumpers say they have long drifted into Chicago during spring and summer to take advantage of the city's lofty perches.

"I remember the first time I went skydiving - it was Feb. 9, 2005 in New Zealand," he told the Middle Tennessee State University newspaper, Sidelines, in 2009. "Literally, I sold my house, my car and gave up my job just so I could do this every day."

Read more about Walters' BASE jumping adventures--and the lives of other BASE jumpers--here.

WATCH the Walters speak about life as a BASE jumper here:

 

Comments

[JIll26]

10:20 AM on 04/24/2011

What he calls living I call death wishing... Someone who finds life unsatisfying unless they are constantly daring the Grim Reaper just ain't quite right in the head.

[jflorish]

10:43 AM on 04/23/2011

I think it's stupid to put these people in jail. Make it a huge fine if they get caught, but putting someone in jail that isn't out hurting anyone and filling up the jails is just stupid.

[JIll26]

10:21 AM on 04/24/2011

I agree: jail, no....looney bin, YES!

[sevnwolves]

11:20 AM on 04/24/2011

Yep, he didn't do ANYTHING to warrant jail. That is until he fails and lands on someone's baby stroller killing an infant. Or lands on the roof of YOUR car. Then what do you think?

[jflorish]

12:25 PM on 04/24/2011

Yeah lots of baby strollers are the bottom of steep ravines. lol

[ChristopherAtom]

09:51 AM on 04/23/2011

Base jumping fatality list
http://www.splatula.com/bfl/

[60699]

08:41 PM on 04/22/2011

Here we have a middle aged man who has abandoned his wife, his son, and modern dentistry so he can sneak around and jump off construction sites. Shouldn't this be in the "stupid criminals" section?

[LogicJack]

04:55 PM on 04/22/2011

Throw him in jail, I tire of these publicity seakers wasting taxpayers money and taking away emergency services for their own ego. Make it 3 years, all time to be served in regular prison population. With a massive fine to go into general services fund of the city or town where they do this.

[pdking77]

12:50 PM on 04/24/2011

Better a mental institution than a jail, then maybe he can get some help. It's obvious he's not wrapped too tight.

[LogicJack]

01:48 PM on 04/24/2011

You think someone burning their own property like a book is ground to put that person forcibly in jail. wrong country. Need to go to a muslim country for that. Where you can get a death sentence for showing a bible and any other religious book that is not of islam. Think on that and be thankfull you live in a country where that is considered ins@nity.

Not excercising your free speech rights.

[LogicJack]

01:50 PM on 04/24/2011

Sorry wrong article and wrong poster lol. Never mind.

I think they could actually do that in some states by the way on the mental facility. Arizona believe it or not has such a law on forced evaluation for 30 days.