Erik Gates of Mythbusters Dies in Freak Accident

Erik Gates, a regular on the show MythBusters, has died following a freak, 30-foot fall in a what is being called a work-related accident.

Gates, who was 47 years old, also owned Gateco Electric and was on the job at a site when he fell through a skylight. Gates sustained blunt force chest injuries and died Sunday. Adding an ironic twist to the story, Gates’ brother Dirk Gates is president and CEO of Xirrus, Inc., which is the company that owns the job site where his brother died.

“He was a good guy,” said Steve DeGennaro, Xirrus Inc.’s co-founder and CFO, on Monday. “He survived cancer, he jumps with parachutes, he base jumps. He’s an active guy who was used to taking precautions. This was a freak accident that shouldn’t have happened.”

Erik Gates had appeared on four episodes of MythBusters as the resident “Amateur Rocket Expert.” He was in the initial pilot episode for the show back in 2003 and was also in episodes Ming Dynasty Astronaut (2004,) Bullet Proof Water, 360 Degree Swing (2005,) and Confederate Rocket (2005.)