‘Truly one of a kind’: Tributes pour in for base jumper who died in Squamish

It was a life lived to the fullest, but taken far too soon.

That’s the underlying theme of a slew of tributes pouring in for Katelyn “Compton” Escott on a memorial Facebook group created after the young woman’s death.

Escott was tragically killed while base jumping off the Stawamus Chief in Squamish early in the afternoon of Thursday, Dec. 5.

The RCMP, Emergency Health Services and local search and rescue all responded to the scene, but she was already dead when they arrived.

Although her life was cruelly cut short, what’s clear from the memorial Facebook group is that Escott’s adventurous spirit and outgoing nature left an impact on people all over the globe.

“What a rad, selfless, down to earth chick,” said Jessy Bell. “Truly one of a kind and such a huge loss to the community.”

Alina Borovika wrote about fond memories of times spent with Escott and the many laughs they shared together.

“You were caring, vulnerable and open hearted,” she said of her late friend. “All the qualities that we aspire to have, concentrated in one human. I learned so much from you.”

Simon Young, meanwhile, called Escott a “bright light” that inspired him to “shine as bright as possible and share the stoke.”

A GoFundMe has also been created by Escott’s good friend Catherine Vaillancourt Roy in hopes of supporting her family through this difficult time of grief.

“She lived her life to the fullest and died doing what she loved in her favourite place on Earth,” Roy explained.

The fundraiser has already raised over $10,000 and the money will be given to her family to help cover the costs of cremation, missed work and more as they navigate their unimaginable loss.

Click here to visit the memorial Facebook group for Escott and here to contribute to her GoFundMe, if you so choose.