John Robert "Johnny" Strange (December 26, 1991 – October 1, 2015) was a world record holding adventurer. At 17, he became the youngest to climb the Seven Summits,[1] a record now held by Jordan Romero at 15 years, 5 months and 12 days.[2][3] He was also a professional wingsuit BASE jumper.[4][5][6][7][8]
Johnny Strange | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Robert Strange December 26, 1991 |
| Died | October 1, 2015 (aged 23) |
| Nationality | American |
| Parent(s) | Brian Strange Dianette Wells |
Strange was from Malibu, CA.[9] His father Brian Strange and his mother Dianette Wells are both adventurers who have climbed Mount Everest.[10]
His first climb, at age 12, was Vinson Massif in Antarctica.[11] Following that, he climbed Mount Everest, Mount Kosciuszko, Mount Elbrus, Kilimanjaro, Denali, and Aconcagua, reached the South Pole, and skydived into the North Pole.
In September 2010, Strange was with a team of three others who BASE jumped into the Grand Canyon. Their planned exit path was blocked and they were stranded without food or water. They survived two nights in the canyon before free climbing out.[12]
Johnny was awarded the honour of "Young Champion" in 2010 at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and attended at the "What Makes A Young Champion?" event.
Death
editOn September 28, 2015, Strange called in to "Kevin & Bean" on KROQ from Switzerland to say he was shooting a dangerous video where "we fly super close to stuff."[13] Three days later, Strange fell to his death in a wingsuit accident after jumping from Gitschen near Lake Lucerne.[14] A paddle-out memorial was held for Strange near his home at Zuma Beach on October 4, 2015.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Malibu's Johnny Strange, 17, becomes youngest to bag Seven Summits", Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2009, retrieved March 2, 2017
- ^ "California teen becomes youngest to climb 7 summits". Associated Press. December 24, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
- ^ "Jordan Romero Climbs Mt. Vinson Massif: Calif. Teen Becomes Youngest To Climb 7 Summits". Huffington Post. December 24, 2011.
- ^ "Malibu adventurer Johnny Strange dies in wingsuit crash in Swiss Alps". abc7.com. October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ "Videos : USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences". Dornsife.usc.edu. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ "Californian becomes youngest to climb 7 summits". abc7.com. June 10, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ "Malibu High Grad Skydives onto North Pole | Malibu, CA Patch". Patch.com. April 12, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ Samuel, Henry (October 2, 2015). "American wingsuit flier Johnny Strange dies in Switzerland accident". Telegraph. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ^ Hine, Chris (July 4, 2009). "Climbers Put Everest's Peak in Perspective". The New York Times.
- ^ "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. April 15, 2009.
- ^ "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. April 15, 2009.
- ^ http://www.ktnv.com/story/13210001/four-las-vegas-men-stranded-in-desert-after-base-jumping-into-canyon?redirected=true [dead link]
- ^ "Johnny Strange - Famed Adventurer Dies At Age 23 ... Wingsuiting Accident". TMZ.com. August 26, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ "Johnny Strange (†23) ist tot: Extremsport-Legende fliegt in der Schweiz in den Tod | Blick". Blick. July 22, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ Moore, Taryn (October 4, 2015). "Daredevil Johnny Strange Dies In Wingsuit Accident". Canyon News. Retrieved October 9, 2015.