NORTH BEND — The search for a missing Florida skydiver in the Washington Cascade foothills will continue by helicopter as the weather allows.
The ground search for 29-year-old Kurt Ruppert, of Lake City, Fla., was suspended Sunday after searchers with the King County sheriff’s office covered 9 square miles on and around Mount Si, a steep and heavily forested 4,200-foot peak about 30 miles east of Seattle.
Ruppert was taking turns with two friends who were waiting on the ground Thursday when he jumped out of a helicopter at 6,500 feet.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Cindi West says because of the flying suit he was wearing, he could have glided for some distance.
Friends say Ruppert has been skydiving seven or eight years and is experienced in a wing suit.
