Renowned motorcycle stuntman Alex Harvill passed away on June 17 (Thursday). Officials in Washington confirmed that Harvill also known as “Daredevil” died during practice for a world record while attempting a motorcycle ramp jump.
Confirming the 28-year-old’s death, Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison in a written statement said that the Ephrata resident crashed his motorcycle at the Grant County International Airport while performing a practice jump. His family has been notified of the tragic event and as per procedure, an autopsy would be conducted on June 18 to evaluate the cause and manner of death. “Our deepest sympathies go out to Alex’s family, friends, and loved ones,” he added.
As per the Moses Lake Airshow, where Harvill was due to participate on Thursday, the stuntman hoped to break the world record by executing a 351-foot jump. However, before the actual attempt, he was critically injured in the warm-up and was rushed to the hospital. The video footage of the stunt has been uploaded on social media where one can see Harvill’s motorcycle clashing with the top edge of a large dirt berm that served as his landing ramp. On their Facebook page, the airshow asserted that no further information related to the event was available as of now.
Harvill was already a Guinness World Record holder; in 2013, he achieved the honor with a dirt-to-dirt jump spanning 297 feet. This year, his goal was to break Australian stunt performer Robbie Maddison’s record set on March 29, 2008. On hearing the news, Maddison said he was “shattered.” In an Instagram post, he wrote that Harvill “was out to set a new world record today when he paid the ultimate price,” adding, “My heart is broken for his family.”
Apart from distance jumps and stunt work, Harvill also participated in motocross and supercross. He is survived by his wife Jessica, and sons Willis, and Watson who was just born last month.