Alex Harvill died on Thursday after crashing while gearing up for an attempt at a world record 351-foot motorcycle jump
Daredevil Alex Harvill died on Thursday after crashing while gearing up for an attempt at a world record 351-foot motorcycle jump, which was captured on video.
Harvill was at the Moses Lake Airshow in Washington, where spectators were recording his practice jumps ahead of the world record attempt.
iFIBER One reports that the fatal practice jump was his first of the morning and was a 150-foot jump.
In the video, which was shot from a distance away from the motorcycle jump, Harvill can be seen riding his bike through a field before launching off a ramp.
During his jump, however, Harvill came up short of his destination and crashed into a dirt mound.
KIMA-TV reports that witnesses saw Harvill’s helmet flying off of his head after the crash.
WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO
Daredevil Alex Harvill lost his life after a practice motorcycle jump resulted in a deadly crash
Harvill was an experienced stuntman and daredevil with several records to his name
Harvill was seen on Instagram looking at the ramp where his fatal crash would occur
It then appears that Harvill is tossed forward from the bike, much to the shock of people witnessing the moment.
Spectators watching the stunt could be heard groaning as the video comes to an end.
The Grant County Coroner said that Harvill, 28, was attempting a practice jump when the crash occurred, with the injuries ultimately resulting in his death.
In video, Harvill can be seen on Thursday riding up to the ramp for his jump
Once he hits the ramp, he starts flying through the sky, all seemingly to plan
As his jump is unfolding, however, it becomes clear that Harvill may land short of his target
Harvill was reportedly taken to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake after first responders tried to treat him at the scene, before ultimately succumbing to his injuries.
An autopsy is scheduled to be performed on Friday to determine Harvill’s cause of death.
‘Our deepest sympathies go out to Alex’s family, friends and loved ones,’ the Grant County Sherriff’s Office said on Facebook.
After the crash, the airshow where the jump was taking place vowed on Facebook to donate proceeds from the jump towards medical expenses for Harvill.
When Harvill lands, he hits the a dirt mound with a high enough impact to go flying
Witnesses claim that Harvill lost his helmet after the crash took place on Thursday
The Moses Lake Airshow, where the jump took place, commented before Harvill’s death
They have not commented publicly since Harvill’s death was confirmed around 4:30pm ET.
Harvill was listed as one of the featured events in the airshow at the Grant County International Airport, set to run from Thursday to Saturday.
The 28-year-old was an accomplished daredevil who hailed from Ephrata, Washington.
On May 12, 2012, he set a world record at Toes Motocross Park in Royal City, Washington, for ramp-to-dirt distance jump, which he clocked in at 425 feet.
Harvill was listed as one of the featured events in the airshow at the Grant County International Airport, set to run from Thursday to Saturday (bike pictured)
A year later, he went for the world record for dirt-to-dirt distance jump.
Harvill leaped over 297 feet at Horn Rapids Motorsports Complex in Richland, Washington, on July 6, 2013. He still holds that Guinness World Record.
He also competed in a number of sports, including the Canadian MX National Series, AMA Motocross, AMA Supercross and Arenacross, in addition to doing stunt work.
A month before his fatal world record attempt, Harvill posted about his goal on his website.
‘I will be attempting another world record jump at this years airshow here in Moses Lake Washington. This time it will be Guinness World Records official for the ‘Ramp to Dirt’ Motorcycle Distance Jump attempt,’ Harvill posted.
‘The current Guinness record … is held by Robbie Maddison who has courageously pushed the sport in many ways over the years,’ he continued.
Alex Harvill is survived by his wife, Jessica, who he is pictured with on Instagram
Jessica was pregnant and gave birth to Alex’s second child just one month ago
That record was set by Maddison over 13 years ago, back in March 2008.
Ahead of his record jump attempt, Harvill told the Columbia Basin Herald that he had been riding since he was four years old.
He also spoke of the inspiration of Evel Knievel, saying, ‘It’s so awesome that I can follow in his footsteps and have some local ties to him and just live on the daredevil motorcycle legacy of pushing the limits.’
In 2017, Harvill suffered an injury after taking a jump too fast, resulting in a hard landing that sent him flying over the handlebars, shattering a heel.
‘All the sudden I just saw I was going too far,’ Harvill said. ‘And at that point, there’s nothing you can do.’
The accident forced him to reconsidering his racing career, though he ultimately got back into it and was even winning races prior to Thursday’s tragedy.
Just one month ago, Harvill took to Instagram to announce the birth of Watson Robert Harvill, his second baby.