Friends Of BASE Jumper Who Died In Big Sur Say They're Devastated

VENTURA (CBSLA.com) — Friends of a 30-year-old woman killed after parachuting off a California bridge say they're devastated.

Katie Connell of Ventura was an avid BASE jumper who died in Big Sur after getting swept away by a big wave and drowning after landing a jump, deputies said.

Her companion went after her to help, but he too died.

"She lived life big. She was funny and her smile lit up the room. Her personality was infectious and you couldn't help but love her," said Leigh Moffett, Connell's roommate and best friend, who was too devastated to go on-camera.

Connell's friends say she had just moved to Ventura. They said she loved going to the beach, to the mountains and any building that was high enough to jump off.

Monterey County Sheriff's say a video from a helmet camera that's not being released showed Connell descending roughly 300 feet and landing on Bixby Creek, which feeds into the ocean.

Deputies say they didn't know about the BASE jumpers deaths until Saturday when a parachute and helmet were found buried on the beach.

Her friends say Connell, who was originally from Tennessee, loved adventure and was a traveling nurse who loved to help others.