Daredevil Alex Harvill dies while gearing up to perform record-breaking motorcycle jump in Washington

Daredevil Alex Harvill’s latest effort at a world record stunt has ended in tragedy.

The 28-year-old stunt rider died on Thursday after he crashed during a practice run ahead of the first event of the Moses Lake Airshow at Grant County International Airport, located about 105 miles southwest of Spokane in Washington, according to the event’s website.

Harvill was gearing up to jump his motorcycle more than the length of a football field, about 351 feet in all, in a bid to break the Guinness World Record set by Robbie Madison in 2008.

Video seen by NBC News appears to show Harvill landing short of a ramp, striking the edge of a dirt pile and being tossed from his bike.

He was taken to the hospital for his injuries, but Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison confirmed his death a short time later.

Alex Harvill
Alex Harvill


Alex Harvill

“Coroner Morrison’s staff will conduct an autopsy on Friday to confirm the cause and manner of death, which is normal procedure,” the Grant County Coroner’s Office said in a statement on Thursday. “Our deepest sympathies go out to Alex’s family, friends and loved ones.”

Earlier this month, Harvill posted a video on Instagram showing off the ramp and expressing his excitement about potentially breaking a world record.

“Come watch me hit this ramp June 17th,” he wrote on June 6

His last post on social media was a photo of his bike. It read “Suzy is ready to be sent!”

Harvill set a record in 2013 for the longest dirt-to-dirt motorcycle ramp jump at 297 feet.

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