Dutch base jumper Jarno Cordia has died after leaping from a platform above a sheer cliff in Switzerland and hitting the rocks several times.

His sister placed a message on Facebook reporting the death. ‘The New Year began so beautifully with a jump into the deep in his beloved Swiss,’ she wrote. ‘It was his last.’

Cordia, 44, is said to be an experienced base jumper. He wore a wingsuit, with webbing between arms and legs so he could glide for longer before pulling his parachute.

Swiss police said it is unclear why he hit the rocky cliff wall at Lauterbrunnen several times and have opened an investigation.

According to website Skydiving Planet, dozens of wingsuit base jumpers are killed in accidents every year.