Pioneering basejumper Alexander Polli dies after crashing into a tree

Basejumper Alexander Polli has died after crashing into a tree during a jump in France.

According to French media reports the 31-year-old Italian-Norwegian died in the Brevent-Chamonix area of the Alps, close to Mont Blanc, in front of his teammates.

He is believed to have crashed head first into the tree at an altitude of 5,000ft shortly before 11am yesterday morning.

He was a top figure in basejumping, becoming the first jumper to successfully hit a target in 2012. He later founded Morals Arriverderci (goodbye morals), a group of extreme sports fans with the motto ‘See beyond your abilities’.

Polli head-first into the tree, according to French media (Picture: Rai 3)
Previously Polli featured on Red Bull’s website after becoming the first to jump from a helicopter through ‘The Batman Cave – a hole in the side of a mountain – at 155mph.

His Twitter profile says: ‘Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose to live with no regret.’