MOAB, Utah — Two people were killed in a BASE jumping accident in a remote Utah canyon over the weekend, including renowned extreme athlete Andy Lewis, authorities said.

The Grand County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Lewis was among the two people who died following a BASE jumping incident at Mineral Bottom, a remote desert area near the Utah-Colorado border.

According to Aerial Arts Moab, the two victims were taking part in a tandem BASE jump, in which two people are connected by a harness and descend using a single parachute.

Lewis was widely known in the extreme sports community for his achievements in BASE jumping, slacklining and tricklining. He also owned BASE Jump Moab, a company that offered tandem BASE jumping experiences for customers, including people with little or no previous experience.

The other victim was identified as 68-year-old Danny Joe Kregle. A family member described him as a successful businessman, father and grandfather who enjoyed making people laugh and performing magic tricks with his granddaughter.

Lewis gained international attention after performing alongside Madonna during the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show. Dressed in a Roman-style outfit, he performed acrobatic tricks on a narrow slackline while Madonna performed onstage.

Before becoming widely known, Lewis had already established himself as a leading competitive slackliner. He won four consecutive world championships from 2008 through 2011 and later set a Guinness World Record for slackline surfing above China’s Diaoshuilou waterfall.

He also completed high-risk slackline performances, including walking between two hot-air balloons more than 4,000 feet above the Nevada desert in 2014.

BASE jumping is considered significantly more dangerous than traditional skydiving because participants jump from relatively low fixed structures or natural formations, leaving less time to deploy a parachute and respond to problems.

John McEvoy, a BASE jumping instructor who had jumped with Lewis, described him as highly skilled but also known for taking substantial risks.

Authorities dispatched emergency crews to Mineral Bottom on Sunday after receiving reports of people injured during a BASE jumping attempt. The circumstances surrounding the accident remain under investigation.

Lewis’ death marks the loss of one of the best-known figures in the extreme sports community. His work in slacklining and BASE jumping brought him international attention while also highlighting the risks associated with high-risk adventure sports.

Source: Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle.