Some adventurers describe bungee jumping as a near-death experience, but few come as close as one man who managed to survive his rope snapping in Thailand.
Footage of the horrific ordeal went viral this week after the 39-year-old tourist from Hong Kong went public with his story.
The tourist, Mike, who asked to use only his first name to avoid online harassment, jumped from a 30-metre podium in the city of Pattaya during the holidays in January this year. The height is similar to that of a 10-storey building.
Fortunately, the jump was made over a body of water. The bungee cord snapped milliseconds before Mike neared the bottom of his jump, knocking him into the water below.
“I landed on my left side, so the injuries were more serious there,” Mike told CNN , recounting how he became covered in bruises. “It was like someone had really spanked me.”
His dive was witnessed by friends who were with him at Changthai Thappraya Safari and Adventure Park.
Located in northwest Pattaya, the amusement park offers activities ranging from zip lines to live ammunition shooting.
Mike said he originally went to the park to try out the shooting range, but plucked up the courage to bungee jump after his friends challenged him.
“It was too loud, so I closed my eyes. I planned to open my eyes again when I was swinging back,” said Mike. “I realized the rope had snapped when I opened my eyes and was surrounded by water.
He managed to resurface and swim, despite his feet being bound by the lower half of the broken bungee cord.
“If you don’t know how to swim, you’re in trouble,” he said.
Mike said the park refunded the cost of his jump and paid for x-rays and ultrasounds in Thailand.
Nithit Intim, founder of the park, confirmed that the accident had taken place and said it was the first time he had seen a rope break.
“After the rope was severed, our team took him out [Mike] of the water immediately and asked if he was okay,” he told CNN . “He [Mike] said he was feeling hurt. So we took him to the hospital.”
Intim said Mike signed a waiver before taking the jump. He also sent a photograph of what he said was the signed disclaimer, as well as copies of medical bills in Thailand.
“Our staff explained that if any mishap or accident occurs, our company will compensate the medical bills. But the customer cannot claim compensation for another type of expense,” said Intim.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
