Netflix premieres 'La Fiera' this Friday against a somber backdrop: production was marked by the death of Carlos Suárez, a pioneer of BASE jumping in Spain, who died while filming in Toledo. Portrayed by Carlos Cuevas, Suárez was paying tribute to three friends, Darío Barrio, Álvaro Bultó and Manolo Chana, who all died practicing the extreme sport that brought them together.
The fatal incident occurred in Villa de Don Fadrique, Toledo, when Suárez jumped from a hot air balloon in a wingsuit. Neither his basic nor his emergency parachute deployed, and he fell to his death. The accident echoed the tragedies of the friends he intended to honor through the film. Close friend Jesús Calleja said Suárez had previously promised not to jump again, adding emotional weight to his final act.
Suárez was widely recognized as a global legend in mountain sports and BASE jumping. His new approach included free base, a discipline that combines rope-free climbing with parachute jumps. After Darío Barrio's death, Suárez publicly said he would stop wingsuit flying. He returned for this project, which he considered a meaningful way to find closure with his lost companions.
The film also recounts the stories of the other three friends. Manolo Chana, one of Spain's early BASE jumpers, died in 2008 when his parachute failed to open during a jump in Toledo. His death deeply affected the group. In 2011, Álvaro Bultó and Darío Barrio honored Chana by jumping from Venezuela's Angel Falls with his photo in their backpacks. Bultó, a well-known athlete and TV personality, died in 2013 in the Swiss Alps after a wingsuit malfunction. Barrio, a celebrated chef and TV figure, died in 2014 during an air festival in Jaén while paying tribute to Bultó.
Only Armando del Rey, owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant in Madrid, remains from the original group. The film captures the friends' deep bonds and shared risks; several lost their lives pursuing their passion for flight. 'La Fiera' explores the allure and dangers of BASE jumping, a sport that has left a lasting mark on Spain's adventure community.
BASE jumping involves parachuting from fixed objects such as buildings, antennas, spans and earth, or cliffs, and is considered one of the most dangerous extreme sports. In Spain, the discipline has become more visible over the past two decades, but incidents like those depicted in 'La Fiera' have fueled ongoing debate about safety and regulation. The film's release renews attention to the risks faced by athletes who push the limits of human flight, as well as the personal stories behind the headlines.
