Canadian rapper dies during video shoot stunt gone wrong

Canadian rapper Jon James McMurray has died after falling from the wing of an airplane during a video shoot stunt gone wrong.

The rapper, real name Jon James McMurray, was 34 years old.

McMurray, who was also a professional freeskier and stunt artist, had been walking across the wing of a small Cessna while rapping, causing the plane to "go into a downward spiral that the pilot couldn't correct," according to a statement from his management.

Jon James McMurray in video posted to his YouTube channel earlier this month.Credit:YouTube

"Jon held onto the wing until it was too late, and by the time he let go, he didn't have time to pull his chute. He impacted and died instantly," the statement read.

The incident took place in Vernon, British Columbia. The plane eventually landed safely and no one else was injured in the accident, Billboard reports.

In his pre-rap career as an extreme athlete, McMurray had filmed stunts in Australia and New Zealand, but shifted to music following several injuries including a broken back and shattered heel.

According to his management, the musician had trained "intensely" for months for the "wingwalking" attempt, and his music videos had previously featured his stuntwork.

In a video for 2015 single Hello, filmed with stuntman and X Games champion Travis Pastrana, the rapper is seen skydiving and says he "broke a parachute" while preparing for the stunt.

McMurray's last video posted to his YouTube channel earlier this month, a clip promoting his single The Man with rapper Riff Raff, shows the rapper BASE jumping and skydiving in British Columbia and joking about advice a friend offered when he asked "how high should I pull from this BASE jump".

"He's like, 'I don’t know, pull before you hit the ground...'. Thanks," McMurray laughs.

The rapper's friends have started a GoFundMe page aiming to release "all of Jon James' video and music content", including "an uncertain number of ridiculous albums that he recorded and has laid out for us to release in the event of his death".

Rob Moran is an Entertainment reporter for The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times.

Let's block ads! (Why?)