Bungee jumping is a relatively safe extreme sport. However, as with many extreme sports, a chance of death or serious injury comes with the territory. The proceeding stories are saddening, and anyone who has been contemplating bungee jumping may be deterred by them, but keep in mind that the following incidents were the product of human error. Such accidents have practically no chance of happening these days due to very stringent safety measures.
#4 - The Pentecost Island Villager's Disastrous Misadventure
The villagers of Pentecost Island take place in a ritual known as Naghol, or land diving. This ritual involves building large towers out of fresh wood and vines. Male villagers leap from platforms located between 10 and 30 meters high, with only two vines attached to their ankles. The platforms are designed to snap back when the vines reach their limit. This prevents the divers from sustaining too much of an impact. More information on the fascinating ritual can be found here.
In 1974, an unfortunate incident occurred because of a blatant disregard for the jumpers' safety. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and other guests were visiting the island, and before they arrived, the British colonial administration convinced the villagers to perform their ritual off-season. Since it was being carried out during wet season, vines were not up to the usual standards.
Most of the land dives performed for Queen Elizabeth turned out alright, but one land diver was quite unfortunate. The vines attached to his ankles could not withstand the force brought along by his descent and he suffered, at the very least, a broken back when he hit the ground. The injured diver was rushed to the hospital, where he died of his injuries.
#3 - The Untimely Demise of Laura Patterson
In yet another display of human error, Laura Patterson, a 43-year-old circus aerialist from Sarasota Florida, met her end while practicing for Superbowl XXXI's Halftime Show. It was a Thursday night, just a few days before the big game. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome was darkened and upbeat music was blaring. During the last 30 seconds of this practice run, a troupe composed of 16 bungee jumpers was set to leap from the top of the stadium.
When their time came, the troupe leaped, but due to a malfunctioning or improperly used hoist, Laura Patterson made head-first contact with the concrete playing field. She was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead due to massive cranial trauma. The bungee jumping portion of the half-time show was removed, and a memorial in honor of Patterson was included in its stead.
#2 - Erin Langworthy's Crocodile Infested River Incident
On New Year's Eve, 2011, Erin Langworthy played the leading role in a freak bungee jumping accident. Unlike the unnamed Pentecost Island villager, Langworthy's tale has a happy ending.
After leaping from a bridge located over the Zambezi River, Langworthy's bungee cord broke. The cord stretched approximately 265 feet before snapping, so that amount, coupled with the proceeding 100 foot fall, resulted in the impact of a 365 foot fall. The 22-year-old thrill seeker placed her hands above her head before making contact with the river. This action may have saved her life.
Langworthy blacked out when she plunged into the river, but the extremely cold water snapped her out of it. With her ankles still held together by the broken cord, she swam towards the crocodile infested river's bank and lived to see another day. The aforementioned accident is very unlikely to happen in an area where safety standards are upheld; bungee cords breaking is practically unheard of. More information on Langworthy's tumultuous New Year's Eve can be found here.
#1 - The Late, Late Breakfast Show's "Hang Em' High" Stunt Goes Horribly Wrong
In November of 1986, The Late, Late Breakfast Show was rehearsing for a stunt known as "Hang Em' High". The stunt involved an exploding box held 120 feet in the air by a crane, with a trapdoor situated at the bottom. Michael Lush, the hod carrier turned substitute stuntman, was to bungee jump from the bottom of the crate as it exploded.
As a result of a multitude of human errors, Lush's rehearsal ended with a fatal accident that could have easily been avoided. Lush's family was awarded 120,000 euros, and The Late, Late Breakfast Show was taken off the air. More information on this misadventure can be found here.
All of the misadventures listed above, with the exception of Langworthy's, occurred at a time before safety standards for bungee jumping were widespread. All modern bungee jumping locales should uphold the stringent safety measures put in place by A J Hackett. Before bungee jumping, the "jumpmaster" should be able to confidently reassure their clients that there is nothing to be concerned about.