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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Guardian staff and agencies

Jon James: rapper dies after falling from plane during wing-walking stunt

Jon James McMurray was walking on the wing of a Cessna plane when he fell.
Jon James McMurray was walking on the wing of a Cessna plane when he fell. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo

A Canadian rapper has died while filming a stunt that involved rapping while walking on the wing of a plane.

The British Columbia’s coroner’s service said 34-year-old Jon James McMurray had been with a team making videos of plane stunts and parachuting on Saturday.

McMurray’s manager, Ryan Desrochers, said the rapper had trained “intensively” for the stunt but, as he moved farther out on to a wing, the small Cessna went into a downward spiral. Desrochers said McMurray had held on to the wing too long and by the time he let go he didn’t have time to open his parachute. He died on impact.

The plane landed safely. Police were investigating the death, local media said.

Friends of McMurray paid tribute to his “unbelievable talent” for music. Rory Wayne Bushfield, who knew the rapper since childhood, told the Star he had trained for the stunt for months.

“He planned for everything,” he said. “It should have been straightforward. It’s one of those things. We’re not really sure what happened.”

Associated Press contributed to this report


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